UK court jails Palestinian Action activists on ‘terrorism’ charges
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- Four activists from the Palestinian Action group were sentenced to five to eight years in prison by a UK court for a raid on the Israeli arms company Elbit Systems, with the judge labeling the act as "terrorist."
- The activists were convicted of criminal damage, and one was found guilty of assaulting a police officer with a sledgehammer, causing serious injury.
- Palestine Action, proscribed as a terrorist organization in the UK since July 2023, was accused of carrying out the raid to intimidate and influence the British government and Elbit Systems.
- Supporters argue the activists destroyed Israeli weapons used in Gaza and claim the ruling is a miscarriage of justice; protests outside the court led to 72 arrests.
- The sentencing coincides with an upcoming UK High Court decision on the government’s appeal against lifting the ban on Palestine Action, which criminalizes membership or support of the group.