Palestine Action now faces serious trouble after police arrested four people for damaging military aircraft at a UK airbase. On June 20, two members of the group broke into the Royal Air Force’s Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire. They sprayed red paint on two refuelling and transport planes and struck them with crowbars. Subsequently, the police arrested three individuals aged between 29 and 36 on suspicion of terrorism. They also arrested a 41-year-old woman for assisting the offenders.
Meanwhile, Palestine Action claimed the protest aimed to stop weapons from reaching Israel during the war in Gaza. However, the UK government viewed it as a serious threat. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the act “disgraceful,” and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper promised stronger action against the group.
Government Ban
Palestine Action said their protest was peaceful and aimed at stopping what they call a “genocide in Palestine.” The group said the arrests were political and meant to silence them. Still, the UK government plans to ban the group under anti-terror laws.
Home Secretary Cooper said Palestine Action had become more aggressive and that members were willing to use violence. She announced that the group would be banned starting next Friday. After the ban, anyone who supports the group could face up to 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action Under National Scrutiny
Since the war in Gaza began, the Palestine Action has targeted UK companies connected to Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems. The group has protested at offices, factories, and now military sites. Officials say their protests have become more extreme and dangerous.
The airbase incident pushed the government to act. Now, Palestine Action is now at the centre of a national security debate. The upcoming ban is one of the strictest moves that has been made against a protest group in the UK in recent years.
