On Friday, June 20, pro-Palestinian activists in the UK claimed they infiltrated a Royal Air Force (RAF) base in central England and damaged two military aircraft. The direct action group Palestine Action announced the operation via a post on X.
According to the group, its members allegedly entered RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire undetected and later left the site without being apprehended.
In their statement, Palestine Action claimed that activists used repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the jet engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft and inflicted further damage using crowbars. The UK Ministry of Defence has not yet issued an official comment on the incident.
This action comes amid a surge in activism related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Recently, climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others attempted to sail to the Gaza Strip to “break the Israeli blockade.” Their mission failed when Israeli forces boarded the ship Madleen and deported Thunberg and her team.
The broader geopolitical climate has also intensified. On June 13, tensions escalated dramatically between Israel and Iran, with both countries conducting deadly airstrikes on each other’s territories. On June 19, UK Attorney General Richard Hermer raised legal concerns regarding the legitimacy of Israel’s actions in Iran. If deemed unlawful, the UK may face legal restrictions on providing military support to Israel or backing a potential US-led campaign against Iran.
