Palestine Action activists found guilty in UK over raid on Israeli defense firm

(SeaPRwire) –   The defendants damaged equipment at Elbit’s factory in Bristol, suspecting it was supplying the Israeli military with arms used in the Gaza war

A British court has convicted four members of the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action over a 2024 raid on an Israeli-linked defense facility in Bristol, which they suspected was supplying the Israeli military with weapons.

The case has sparked debate over the UK’s involvement in Israel’s actions in Gaza, including its destruction of the territory, occupation of the West Bank, and invasion of Lebanon. The government has faced widespread criticism for using anti-terror legislation to suppress reporting on the case, limit jury nullification, restrict legal representation, and impose prolonged pre-trial detention on the activists.

Palestine Action has been banned in Britain, leading to a series of unusual arrests of protesters carrying signs bearing the group’s name at pro-Palestine demonstrations across the country.

The defendants drove a decommissioned prison van through the gates of a plant owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defense electronics contractor, in August 2024. They destroyed computers, drones, and other equipment while clashing with security personnel and police, stating their aim was to “save lives in Palestine.” Their actions caused approximately £1 million ($1.36 million) in damage.

Their lawyers confirmed that all six defendants admitted to causing the destruction but denied the charges of criminal damage, telling the jury they intended to “dismantle drones and weaponry” they believed would be used to kill civilians in Gaza.

The verdict was delivered by Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London on Tuesday. Charlotte Head, 30; Samuel Corner, 23; Leona Kamio, 30; and Fatema Zainab Rajwani, 21, were found guilty of criminal damage. Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, were acquitted. The four convicted individuals are scheduled to be sentenced on June 12.

Corner was separately convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Sergeant Kate Evans. The prosecution alleged that the accused struck the officer in the back with a sledgehammer, fracturing her spine. Evans reported being off work for three months and continues to perform restricted duties more than 20 months later.

However, Corner told the jury he attacked the officer in a panic after being pepper-sprayed and acted to protect a colleague he believed was seriously injured. He also emphasized that violence during the raid was not premeditated.

The jury, which received limited information throughout the trial, deliberated for over 14 hours before clearing Corner of grievous bodily harm with intent, reducing his maximum possible sentence to five years instead of life imprisonment. The maximum sentence for the other convicts is ten years, though this is typically lower for first-time offenders.

Elbit Systems, which operates more than a dozen sites across the UK, denies manufacturing or exporting weapons to the Israeli military. However, media reports have indicated that components produced by UK-based subsidiaries of Elbit have been used by the Israel Defense Forces.

The break-in at the Filton facility was among the incidents that prompted the British government to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in 2025. In February 2026, London’s High Court ruled the ban unlawful, though the designation remains in effect pending final judgment.