Palestine Action

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. Palestine Action use civil disobedience methods that have resulted in its members being arrested. Their methods include protest, occupation of premises and criminal damage, destruction of property and vandalism.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On 14 June, the fourth anniversary of the Grenfell 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 on 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.

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."

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. Six people were arrested over the suspected plot of disruption.

Vandalism
In November 2023, Palestine Action activists spray painted messages "Free Gaza" and "Free Palestine" across weapons company Leonardo's office in Piccadilly. Two men were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage, which was investigated as a hate crime.

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". Palestine Action said they targeted the company because it was assisting the delivery of weapons to Israel.

In March 2024, Palestine Action claimed responsibility for spray painting an historic portrait of Arthur James Balfour at Trinity College, Cambridge. Palestine Action said the action was taken because of the 1917 Balfour declaration.

In April 2024, Somerset County Hall, a Grade II-listed public building owned by Somerset Council, was splashed with red paint after a Palestine Action protest. The protest was related to the council's leasing of a building to defence contractor Elbit Systems UK.

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.

In June 2024, Cambridge students, in collaboration with Palestine Action, sprayed historic "senate house" red in University of Cambridge.

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.

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.