London, the UK – Four Palestine Action activists who were sentenced as “terrorists” are appealing against the ruling. Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, and Fatema Zainab Rajwani were found guilty of criminal damage “with a terrorist connection” following a raid, which was claimed by Palestine Action, on an Israeli arms factory in August 2024 in Filton, near Bristol. The sentencing marked the first categorisation of property damage as “terrorism” in British courts.
Human rights groups condemned the ruling in June. Activists Head and Kamio were handed five-year sentences, while Corner, who was also convicted of grievous bodily harm without intent for striking a police officer during the raid, was given seven years and eight months. Rajwani, who at 21 is the youngest of the group, was handed a sentence of four years and eight months.
The appeal argues that the conviction violated Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as Palestine Action was not a proscribed organisation at the time of the offence. It also argues that “the sentences were manifestly excessive” and violated the “principles of natural justice” as well as ECHR’s Article 6, which regards the right to a fair trial. The mothers of Kamio and Rajwani, visibly emotional when describing prison conditions and futures their children may face, said they were proud of their daughters.
Emma Kamio’s voice broke when stating, “[Leona] will be 50 years old…when she finishes her sentence”, referring to the decades of supervision that would follow time spent in prison. Elbit Systems, Palestine Action’s main target, describes its drones as the “backbone” of the Israeli army. The August 2024 Filton raid was carried out at its UK affiliate.
Palestine Action says it is “committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”. The group relies on direct action to disrupt flows of arms and military-related goods to Israel, stating that “If one action stops one weapon from killing a Palestinian, then it’s all worth it.” James Smith, a doctor who returned eight days ago from Gaza, where he was providing urgent medical care, said it was “an honour” to support the activists. Direct action efforts should be “understood alongside the sheer inability of healthcare workers to respond to the outcomes of these war machines”, he said, referring to Israeli quadcopter drones.
He referenced the shooting of a 10-month-old baby in Gaza by an Israeli quadcopter in April, 2024. The activists known as the “Filton 24” have said they were targeting quadcopter drones produced by Elbit Systems during their raid. When speaking of the activists, Smith noted the “first tenet” of medical best practice, saying, “Prevention is better than cure.” People sentenced as “terrorists” are treated as dangerous and face scrutiny long after they leave prison.
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