Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian protest network that uses direct action tactics to shut down and disrupt multinational arms dealers. The group targets UK-based operations that provide weapons used in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Its main targets are UK factories of Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.
In their campaigns, Palestine Action have used protest, occupation of premises and alleged criminal damage, destruction of property and vandalism, which has sometimes resulted in its members being arrested.
History
Palestine Action was established on 30 July 2020 when activists broke into and spray-painted the interior of Elbit Systems' UK headquarters in London.[2] The organisation's co-founders are Huda Ammori, whose father is Palestinian, and Richard Barnard, a long-term left-wing activist.[3]
On 10 June 2021, three protestors from the group "stormed, scaled and occupied" an APPH drone factory in Runcorn.[14] Activists daubed red paint on the exterior, dismantled drone and aircraft machinery and destroyed windows.[14][15] The next day all three were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.[16]
On 14 June, the fourth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, a similar occupation protest was staged at an Arconic factory in Kitts Green, Birmingham by three protestors.[17] Arconic provided the cladding that allowed the rapid transmission of fire across Grenfell Tower, and according to Palestine Action provide "materials for Israel's fighter jets".[17] The occupation ended when two activists were arrested on the roof of the building two days later.[18] One activist was remanded in prison and immediately went on hunger strike.[19] The activist said they would end their strike if any one of four conditions were met: release of Palestine Action protestors; the eviction of Elbit from its London headquarters by property firm LaSalle Investment Management; the closure of all Elbit Systems' British operations or; release by the government of all correspondence and documents relating to its dealings with Elbit and its subsidiaries.[19]
In April 2022, two Palestine Action protestors chained themselves to the gates of a drone factory of UAV Tactical Systems Ltd, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, in Braunstone. Other activists gathered nearby with signs stating "Free Palestine". Three protestors were arrested. A spokesperson for the group said that "Direct action will not cease until all Elbit sites are closed."[20]
In January 2024, it was alleged that activists from Palestine Action were intending to target the London Stock Exchange by damaging the building and preventing trade.[21] Six people were arrested over the suspected plot of disruption.[22]
In September 2024, the London headquarters of APCO Worldwide was targeted by Palestine Action over its representation of the UK interests of Israeli arms firm Elbit Systems. Activists daubed the façade of the office building with red paint using repurposed fire extinguishers, blocked the entrance and locked the doors with a bike lock.[23][24][25]
In October 2024 Palestine Action targeted a factory in Bromborough, Wirral, a producer of F-35 fighter plane components owned by Teledyne CML Composites. The action consisted of breaking through the roof and spraying red paint into cleanrooms, with a manager for Teledyne allegedly claiming "damage to the clean rooms could halt production for up to 12 months."[26]
Hydrafeed, a supplier of 'automation equipment' for CNC turning and milling applications, was attacked by PA activists in June 2023 accusing Hydrafeed of supplying Instro Precision Ltd, an Elbit Systems subsidiary.[27] Hydrafeed denied the accusation and maintained they were falsely targeted, claiming “Hydrafeed would like to inform all of our customers and suppliers that we have absolutely no connection with the aforementioned company.“We do not supply and never have supplied Elbit Systems with any of our products...This act of vandalism on Hydrafeed’s property and machines was completely unfounded.”.[28] Later in the year Hydrafeed allegedly broke off all ties with Elbit Systems,[29] reportedly sending an email to Palestine Action reading; “Hydrafeed has made it clear to Instro Precision that it is not prepared to provide any sales or services of its products to Instro Precision, its parent company Elbit Systems or any of Elbit Systems subsidiaries now or in the future.”.[30]
In November 2023, Palestine Action activists spray painted messages "Free Gaza" and "Free Palestine" across weapons company Leonardo's UK Head office in Piccadilly, with the protestors claiming Leonardo had supplied Israel with fighter jets.[31][32] Two men were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage, which was investigated as a hate crime.[33][clarification needed]
Edinburgh PA activists targeted a Leonardo factory in Crewe Toll, spraying red paint over the factory and fighter-jet models, as well as claiming to have sabotaged 'internet cables', with a spokesperson for the group saying, "In the early hours of Tuesday 28th May, a group opened the box of cables, cut the internet wires, sprayed expanding foam inside the box and spray painted 'Stop Arming Israel' on the lid.". The action was carried out, against Leonardo, according to PA Scotland, for "continuing to arm the Israeli military with weapons". In January of the same year several activists occupied the roof of the same factory.[34]
In January 2024, Palestine Action vandalised an office of Kuehne + Nagel in Milton Keynes by smashing windows and spraying the building with paint. Palestine Action said the action was taken because "in the past 100 days over 25,000 Palestinians were killed".[35] Palestine Action said they targeted the company because it was assisting the delivery of weapons to Israel.[35]
In June 2024, Cambridge students, in collaboration with Palestine Action, sprayed historic "senate house" red in University of Cambridge.[38]
In November 2024, Palestine Action members broke a glass cabinet in the University of Manchester's Chemistry Building on the Oxford Road campus, and stole two busts of Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel and a former teacher at the university. Palestine Action said it had "abducted" the busts to mark the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in 1917.[39][40] As of November 2024[update] one individual has been arrested for the action.[41]
Arrests, Trials and Sentencing
In May 2024, seven Palestine Action activists who broke into a Bristol HQ of Elbit Systems, an international defence technology firm, to destroy equipment in 2022 were given suspended prison sentences and ordered to pay more than £5,000 in compensation. The protesters sprayed the messages "Free Palestine" and "Shut Elbit Down" on walls and windows and accused Elbit Systems of supplying arms to Israel.[42]
In August 2024, five Palestine Action activists were found guilty for the 2022 protest action against Thales UK in Govan, Glasgow, with four of the defendants receiving 12-month custodial sentences and the fifth receiving 14 months.[43][44]
An additional ten people were raided and arrested by counter-terror forces under the Terrorism Act on 19 November in relation to an August action against the Elbit Systems HQ in Bristol,[45] in addition to those previously arrested on the scene who were charged for non-terror related crimes.[46][47]
Four members of PA were released on bail on 13 November after being arrested on suspicion of a public order offence for a lock-on protest to block entrance to two Elbit Systems buildings in Aztec West, Bristol.[48]
Responses to Palestine Action
Freedom of Information (FOI) documents obtained by Palestine Action showed that Israeli embassy officials asked the UK Attorney General's Office (AGO) to intervene in cases involving the prosecution of UK protesters. Redactions were made to the FOI documents because disclosure "would be likely to prejudice the UK's relations with Israel". In his response to the embassy officials, the director general of the AGO mentioned the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which placed restrictions on protests, and a recent court case which determined that protesters accused of "significant" criminal damage could not use the protection of human rights as a defence.[49]
In May 2024, it was reported that an upcoming report from the government's adviser on political violence Lord Walney would recommend proscribing "extreme protest groups", including Palestine Action. Possible sanctions placed on the group could restrict its ability to fundraise and its right to assembly.[50]
Documents obtained by Palestine Action through FOI gave details of government meetings to "reassure" Elbit Systems about Palestine Action's campaign against it. Palestine Action said that the documents demonstrate that the Home Office tried to pressure police and prosecutors to crack down on activists targeting Elbit Systems.[51]
^"Activists say British firm cut ties with Israeli weapons maker". The Palestine Action network has announced that UK-based machinery supplier Hydrafeed has cut ties with Israel's largest arms manufacturer Elbit Systems after a pressure campaign. The group said its activists spotted and "destroyed" machinery built by the company inside Elbit's factory in Kent in June.
