Five Pro-Palestinian Activists Plead Not Guilty to Charges of Entering UK Military Base

Pro-Palestinian Activists Declare Their Innocence

Five pro-Palestinian activists have pleaded "not guilty" to charges related to their entry into a British military base and the destruction of two aircraft, protesting the UK's support for Israel's war in Gaza. The group is accused of unlawfully entering Brize Norton airbase in central England in June, where they sprayed two Voyager aircraft used for refueling and transport with red paint.

The campaign group Palestine Action, which has been banned by the government, claimed responsibility for the incident. Activists Lewie Chiaramello, Jon Cink, Amy Gardiner-Gibson, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, and Muhammad Umer Khalid appeared via videolink from prison at Old Bailey in London on Friday. They pleaded "not guilty" to the charge of causing damage detrimental to the interests or safety of the UK. Their trial is set to begin in January 2027.

No bail applications were made, although this was one of five key requests put forward by the activists. Other requests included the right to a fair trial— which they believe includes the release of documents related to the "witch hunt" against activists and campaigners— an end to the censorship of their communications, the "de-proscription" of Palestine Action, and the closure of Elbit Systems, which operates several factories in the UK.

Founded in July 2020, Palestine Action describes itself as a movement "committed to ending global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime." The British Parliament voted to ban the group on July 2, 2025, classifying it as a "terrorist" organization. More than 1,600 arrests related to support for the banned group occurred in the three months following the introduction of the ban. The prohibition has been challenged in court.