Palestine activists sentenced for Israeli arms factory raid by UK court

A London court has handed down lengthy sentences to activists from campaign group Palestine Action, who raided an Israeli-owned arms company in the UK. 

The four members of Palestine Action, which has been designated a terrorist group by the British govenrment, broke into a factory in Bristol, south west England, run by Elbit Systems, Israel's largest military manufacturer in August 2024.

Samuel Corner, 23, who struck police sergeant with a sledgehammer during the raid, was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison for grievous bodily harm and criminal damage. 

Charlotte Head, 30, and Leona Kamio, 30, were each jailed for five years for criminal damage. Head was also banned from driving for one year after she used a prison van as a “battering ram” to force entry into the factory.

Fatema Rajwani, 21, received a sentence of four years and eight months for criminal damage. 

Each will also be subject to 15 years of terrorist notification requirements.

The court heard that the group caused about £1 million ($1.3 million) during the raid, where the activists smashed up drones and other equipment.

The judge ruled that the offences met the legal definition of having a “terrorist connection,” a central issue in the case.

The finding of a “terrorist connection” required the court to impose more severe sentences.

“I am sure that one of the purposes of your offending was to influence the United Kingdom government,” Mr Justice Johnson said.

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The court heard that the group sought to end what it considered to be Britain’s “complicity” in serious crimes by Israel in Gaza.

Mr Justice Johnson added that intimidation of company staff amounted to coercion of the public and that the offences were committed “for the purpose of advancing a political or ideological cause.”

Elbit Systems operates several offices and production facilities in Britain and elsewhere, producing communications systems, surveillance technologies and unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.

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