6 'Palestine Action' Activists Acquitted in Attack on Israeli 'Elbit' Factory in Britain

A British court on Wednesday acquitted six pro-Palestinian British activists of violent burglary in a case related to a 2024 raid on a factory belonging to the Israeli company "Elbit Systems." This ruling is a significant blow to the prosecution, as the jury did not issue any convictions against the six defendants, who are members of the "Palestine Action" group.

The raid targeted the Israeli company's facility in Bristol, southwest England, in the early hours of August 6, 2024, approximately 10 months after the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The prosecution told Woolwich Crown Court in London that the attack caused material damage estimated at one million pounds sterling ($1.4 million), noting that a truck was used to break into the site and destroy equipment.

The activists defended themselves by asserting that their motive was humanitarian, aimed at destroying weapons and preventing their use in the "war of extermination" in the Gaza Strip, denying any violence against individuals. The acquitted defendants are: Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Cameo, Fatima Zainab Rajwani, Zoe Rogers, and Jordan Devlin.

Despite the acquittal of all on burglary charges, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on charges of causing a public nuisance for three of the defendants, and a charge of causing grievous bodily harm against Samuel Corner, despite deliberations lasting more than 36 hours. An atmosphere of joy prevailed inside the courtroom after the verdict was announced, as the activists celebrated with their supporters.

For their part, the prosecutors stated that they needed time to consider the possibility of requesting a retrial on the charges for which no decision was reached. This ruling comes amid complex political circumstances, as the British government had classified "Palestine Action" as a proscribed organization in July 2025, a year after the incident.

Sources in London reported that this legal battle is part of a series of actions led by activists to remove the organization from terror lists. The British government faces increasing public pressure, as the issue has become a matter of public opinion directly linked to the stance on the war in Gaza and military support for Israel.

Our motive was simply to destroy weapons to stop the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.