Four UK pro-Palestinian activists jailed over raid at Israeli firm Elbit
UK Pro-Palestinian Activists Face Long Sentences for Factory Raid
Four UK pro Palestinian activists jailed - In a recent ruling, four British activists linked to the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action were sentenced to prison terms exceeding 20 years for damaging an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol in 2024. The attack, which caused over £1 million in losses, was deemed to have a "terrorism connection" by the judge, leading to harsher penalties for the individuals involved.
Convictions and Sentencing Details
Charlotte Head (30), Samuel Corner (23), Leona Kamio (30), and Fatema Zainab Rajwani (21) were convicted of criminal damage at Woolwich Crown Court in May. Corner, who struck a police officer with a sledgehammer, was also found guilty of grievous bodily harm. While they had previously been cleared of aggravated burglary charges, prosecutors argued the incident should be classified as a terrorism-related act.
Judge Jeremy Johnson acknowledged the terrorist link but noted the activists' prior good character as a mitigating factor. Corner received seven years and eight months for his roles in the attack, despite the judge stating his autism did not justify the "extreme and gratuitous" force used. Kamio and Head were given five-year terms, while Rajwani received four years and eight months for the criminal damage.
Legal Context and Group Status
Palestine Action was banned under UK terrorism law after the raid, a decision that the High Court later deemed unlawful. However, the group remains restricted pending a government appeal, with a final ruling expected on Monday. The judge emphasized that while Palestine Action was not officially proscribed at the time of the offense, the actions were connected to terrorism due to their intent to influence British policy toward Israel and the severity of property damage.
"Criminal damage has never been treated as terrorism within the UK justice system before and it is dangerous to treat them as the same thing," said Kerry Moscogiuri, chief executive of Amnesty International UK. "It is completely disproportionate to punish protesters for criminal damage as if they were terrorists, a sentence that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."
Impact and Public Response
Elbit Systems reported receiving nearly £1.2 million from insurers to cover the damage, highlighting the financial and operational disruption caused by the raid. The incident reportedly harmed staff safety and morale, with specialized military drone equipment and IT systems among the items destroyed. The activists claimed their goal was to dismantle weapons used in Gaza's "genocide" and denied targeting people with violence.
Following the sentencing, over 100 supporters of Palestine Action were arrested outside the courthouse. A coalition of public figures, including authors, activists, and celebrities, signed an open letter criticizing the decision, arguing it could represent a miscarriage of justice if criminal damage is equated with terrorism.