A UK court has sentenced four activists from the group Palestine Action to prison terms of approximately five to eight years on "terror" charges following a raid on an Israeli arms company. Judge Jeremy Johnson at Woolwich Crown Court in London declared the August 2024 raid on Elbit Systems a "terrorist act" during the sentencing.

Last month, four of the six activists on trial were convicted of criminal damage. One defendant was also found guilty of assaulting a police officer with a sledgehammer during the incident. The group stated their objective was to "dismantle drones and weaponry" they claimed were destined for use in the Gaza Strip.

Palestine Action was officially designated as a "terrorist" organisation in the UK in July of the previous year. Justice Johnson cited a "terrorism connection" due to "serious property damage" to Israeli weapons, asserting the action aimed to influence the British government and intimidate Elbit Systems, Israel's largest arms manufacturer.

Supporters of the activists, organised as the Filton 25 Defence Committee, condemned the ruling. They argued that destroying "killer drones" used in Gaza was a duty that saved lives, not terrorism, and announced plans to appeal the decision, calling it a "serious miscarriage of justice."

Samuel Corner, 23, received the longest sentence of seven years and eight months for striking police officer Kate Evans twice with a sledgehammer, resulting in a fractured spine. The judge described his actions as using "extreme and gratuitous force against a vulnerable police officer."

Charlotte Head, 30, who drove a van through the site's gates, and Leona Kamio, also 30, were each sentenced to five years. Fatema Rajwani received a sentence of four years and eight months.

Approximately 500 protesters gathered outside the court in solidarity, leading to the arrest of 72 individuals for displaying signs supporting Palestine Action. The sentencing occurred shortly before a UK High Court ruling on the government's appeal against the lifting of the Home Office ban on Palestine Action. The ban, enacted under the 2000 Terrorism Act, criminalised membership or support for the group, carrying a potential 14-year prison sentence, and has led to around 3,000 arrests at demonstrations since its implementation.

This case highlights the ongoing tension surrounding direct action protests against companies involved in arms manufacturing, particularly those with ties to conflict zones. The legal proceedings and public response underscore the divisive nature of these tactics and their classification under terrorism legislation.