Palestine Action
 Palestine Action     | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founder | •  Huda Ammori•  Richard Barnard |
| Membership |  Sarah Wilkinson |
Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian protest network that uses civil disobedience tactics to shut down and disrupt multinational arms dealers. In particular, the group targets UK-based operations that provide weapons used in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[1]
In August 2024, following arrests of PA activists Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, and of Sarah Wilkinson under Section 12 (1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000, a PA spokesperson said:
- The British state is deliberately abusing counter-terrorism laws to target Palestine Action and the wider movement in order to protect the interests of a foreign genocidal entity over the freedom of its own citizens. As a movement we will only become stronger in the face of increased repression.[2]
Contents
Protests
Palestine Action was founded on 30 July 2020 when activists broke into and spray-painted the interior of Elbit Systems' UK headquarters in London.[3]
On 19 May 2021, during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, four members of the group dressed in red boiler suits climbed onto the roof of an Elbit Systems-owned drone factory in Meridian Business Park, Leicester. The occupation lasted six days, and a total of 10 arrests were made for conspiracy to commit criminal damage and aggravated trespass.[4]
The group have staged similar occupations of Elbit Systems sites in Bristol, Oldham in collaboration with Extinction Rebellion and Tamworth in collaboration with Animal Rebellion.[5]
On 10 June 2021, three protestors from the group "stormed, scaled and occupied" an APPH drone factory in Runcorn. Activists daubed red paint on the exterior, dismantled drone and aircraft machinery and destroyed windows. The next day all three were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.[6]
On 14 June 2021, 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. 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". The occupation ended when two activists were arrested from the roof of the building two days later. One activist was remanded in prison and immediately went on hunger strike. 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.[7]
Free Palestine
In April 2022, two Palestine Action protestors chained themselves to the gates of a drone factory of UAV Tactical Systems at Meridian Business Park 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."
Blackmail
| 'Palestine Action' co-founder speaks out |
On 6 October 2022, eight Palestine Action activists known as the Elbit Eight were to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court, on charges of burglary, criminal damage and blackmail, pertaining to actions spanning the first six months of Palestine Action. The jury trial was expected to last 4 to 5 weeks and, if found guilty, three of the eight would face a potential 14-year jail sentence for blackmail charges:
“In two years of direct action, Palestine Action have severely disrupted the smooth functioning of a business built on bloodshed. For this, we are facing intense political repression.
"Let it be known that we stand as the accusers, not the accused, and we fully intend to expose Elbit’s many war crimes, in particular, the Israeli arms company’s role in 74 years of occupation and dispossession lived by the Palestinian people.
"#ElbitIsGuilty, we are not.”[8]
Of the Elbit Eight, three – Huda Ammori, her fellow Palestine Action co-founder Richard Barnard, and their comrade Emily Arnott – faced the most serious charge of all, that of conspiracy to blackmail.
The charge is based on how the activists wrote to the company that provided Elbit’s London office space, encouraging its executives to evict the weapons manufacturer, and promising to expand their campaign if this request was not met. The maximum penalty for blackmail under English law is 14 years in prison.
However, for reasons unclear, that Elbit Eight trial has been postponed until at least November 2023.[9]
Just one conviction
On 22 December 2023, twelve NOT GUILTY verdicts were announced for the #ElbitEight after a six week jury trial!
The eight were on trial for several actions taken against Israel’s weapons trade, whilst established Palestine Action’s now-global movement.
Richard Barnard was convicted of 1 count of criminal damage against Elbit’s Oldham factory, which is now SHUT DOWN for good.
A jury note read out in court after the conviction, asked if they could reverse the verdict.
No decision was reached on the remaining 23 charges - meaning a retrial of those counts are likely to happen in 2024/2025.
The #ElbitEight will return as the #ElbitSix - as two were acquitted of all charges against them!
A retrial provides another opportunity to expose the crimes of Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, Elbit Systems.
As this trial was happening, more Palestinians were massacred daily by Elbit’s weaponry and the fight to #ShutElbitDown amplified.[10]
Quick acquittal
In November 2022, after a week and a half trial, five Palestine Action activists who threw paint at Elbit’s London HQ were acquitted in under an hour by a jury at Southwark Crown Court.[11]
Balfour's statue
On 18 December 2023, Palestine Action posted on X:
A Jury at Southwark Crown Court delivered a unanimous NOT GUILTY verdict for two actionists who defaced Balfour’s statue in the House of Commons.
The Balfour Declaration of 1917 signed away the land of Palestine to the Zionist regime.
They know #BritainIsGuilty, Palestine Action is not![12]
Known members
3 of the 4 of the members already have pages here:
| Member | Description |
|---|---|
| Huda Ammori | |
| Richard Barnard | Supporter of Palestine but charged with "expressing an opinion that is supportive of a proscribed organisation contrary to Section 12 (1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000". |
| Sarah Wilkinson | Roving reporter on genocide in Gaza and the West Bank for MENA Uncensored |
Related Documents
| Title | Type | Publication date | Author(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document:Activism on trial: The Elbit Eight and Palestine solidarity | Article | 16 November 2023 | Fatimah Yasmin Ahmed | Eight activists are on trial this week at London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court for disrupting a lethal link in Israel’s military supply chain within the UK. Over the next six weeks, the Elbit Eight will fight in court to prove that Elbit Systems is guilty, and they are not. |
| Document:Eight activists go on trial for disrupting Israel’s weapons trade | Article | 10 November 2023 | Mohamed Elmaazi | The trial of the Elbit Eight takes place at a time when Israel is waging a genocidal war against Gaza – using weapons from Elbit Systems and several other British firms. |
| Document:Lawyers For Israel Oppose Conscience | blog post | 20 May 2023 | Craig Murray | Convictions based on “intent” to do something you have not actually done, are generally dubious. The Shenstone defendants have been told by Judge Chambers they will get prison sentences. Expect these to be vicious. |
| Document:Tracker was added to Palestine Action co-founder's phone | blog post | 29 August 2024 | “A tracker was found in a phone returned to us after myself and Richard Barnard were arrested for being co-founders of Palestine Action, a direct action network against Israeli weapons factories. Never use technology the police have touched. Thankfully we never did.” |
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW34WLYg9QI
- ↑ "Now a Palestine Action activist has been charged under the Terrorism Act"
- ↑ "Israeli arms company in London is targeted as activists launch Palestine Action network"
- ↑ "Elbit protest: Pro-Palestine activists ‘shut down’ drone factory"
- ↑ "Extinction Rebellion and Palestine Action activists protest Israeli-linked firm"
- ↑ "Pro-Palestinian activists arrested over Runcorn factory protest"
- ↑ "Jailed activist who occupied roof of Grenfell cladding firm on hunger strike"
- ↑ "Palestine Action’s “Elbit Eight” Prepare for Landmark Court Case Against Israeli Arms Company, Elbit Systems"
- ↑ "Case against Palestine Action collapses again"
- ↑ "No decision was reached on the remaining 23 charges - meaning a retrial of those counts are likely to happen in 2024/2025"
- ↑ "Palestine Action activists acquitted by a jury after Crown Court trial"
- ↑ "Jury delivers a unanimous NOT GUILTY verdict for two actionists who defaced Balfour’s statue in the House of Commons"
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