On Monday (24th November 2025), six members of the UK-based direct action group Palestine Action will go on trial at Woolwich Crown Court in London. They are accused of aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and violent disorder after allegedly breaking into Elbit Systems’ facility in Filton, Bristol, on 6 August 2024 and destroying military equipment, including quadcopter drones reportedly used by Israel in Gaza. Damage was estimated at over £1 million.
The six defendants — Zoe Rogers, Fatema Zainab (Ray) Rajwani, Jordan Devlin, Samuel Corner, Charlotte “Lottie” Head, and one known only as “Ellie”—are part of a larger group of 24 activists (collectively called the “Filton 24”) arrested in connection with the incident through a series of police raids between August 2024 and June 2025. Most have been held in custody for over a year, exceeding the UK’s usual six-month pre-trial detention limit. Terrorism charges were initially filed but later dropped; all now face non-terror offences, and bail has been repeatedly denied.
Background on Palestine Action
Founded in 2020 by Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard, Palestine Action uses direct action — including break-ins, red-paint spraying, blockades, and equipment sabotage — to target companies it accuses of arming Israel. The group intensified activities after Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023, hitting sites linked to Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Leonardo, and even the BBC (over alleged media bias).
Notable actions include:
- Repeated incursions at Elbit’s Oldham and Leicester sites (2020–2022)
- Roof occupation of a Leicester drone factory (2021)
- June 2025 breach of RAF Brize Norton, where activists sprayed red paint on two Airbus Voyager refuelling aircraft (damage estimates £7–30 million)
Proscription as a Terrorist Organisation
In July 2025, following the Brize Norton incident, the UK Parliament voted to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws, making membership or support punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The government described the group’s tactics as “aggressive and intimidatory” and a threat to national security, placing it alongside al-Qaeda and ISIS. On the same day, two far-right/white-supremacist groups (Maniacs Murder Cult and Russian Imperial Movement) were also proscribed.
The ban has faced sharp criticism:
- UN human rights chief Volker Türk called it a “misuse” of terror laws, noting the group is unarmed and has caused no deaths or serious injuries.
- Amnesty International labelled the move “disturbing” and urged the UK to focus instead on ending complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza.
- Co-founder Huda Ammori is legally challenging the ban on free-speech grounds; a hearing is scheduled for 25–27 November 2025.
Wider Crackdown and Protests
Since the proscription, supporting Palestine Action has become a criminal offence. On 4 October 2025, at least 500 people (aged 18–89) were arrested in London for allegedly backing a “proscribed organisation”. Thousands have protested in solidarity with the Filton 24.
Inside prison, several detainees began a hunger strike in November 2025, citing abuse such as being called “terrorists” by staff, confiscation of keffiyehs, and restricted family contact. One activist, Sean Middleborough, was briefly released on bail for his brother’s wedding but reportedly failed to return and is now wanted by police.
The trial is seen as a test case for how Keir Starmer’s government handles pro-Palestine activism, with rights groups accusing authorities of disproportionate repression. Additional Filton 24 members and those involved in the Brize Norton action are expected to face separate trials.
