It has been almost one year since the Filton 18, a group of Palestine Action activists, allegedly destroyed weapons intended for use in Gaza at a facility belonging to Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems, in Bristol. Detained under counter-terrorism powers, they are facing up to 20 months in prison before their actual trial.
Their next hearing is a crucial one and will take place on June 30 and July 31 in Woolwich Crown Court. It will determine what legal defences the actionists can rely on at trial and if they can mention Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Earlier this week, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that she will proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror law after the group broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and spray-painted two military planes red. This means that Palestine Action will be banned in the UK, making it a criminal offence to be part of Palestine Action and support them once the ruling comes into effect. Palestine Action is a non-violent direct action protest movement committed to disrupting the arms industry in the UK and ending global participation in Israel’s genocide in Gaza. At the time of writing, 62,614 Palestinians have been killed, including 17,492 children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the occupied West Bank.
Friends and family of the Filton 18 are calling for the public to support the activists outside of the Woolwich Crown Court on both trial dates, asking for this to be “the biggest mobilisation yet.” The demonstration will start at 9:30am.