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BREAKING: Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and escape undetected

Palestine Action activists have broken into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military aircrafts. The military base is the largest hub in the UK for air transport. In a video posted to its social media, actionists can be seen squirting paint into the engines of military aircraft.

In a statement, the group said:

Palestine Action have damaged two military planes at RAF Brize Norton, where flights leave daily for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, a base used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East.

It also explained:

Red paint, symbolising Palestinian bloodshed was also sprayed across the runway and a Palestine flag was left on the scene. Both activists managed to evade security and arrest.

Palestine Action fight back

An investigation from Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) found that the Royal Air Force (RAF) has conducted at least 518 reconnaissance flights over Gaza since December 2023. Declassified reported that:

The flights, carried out by 14 Squadron’s Shadow R1 aircraft from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, have been shrouded in secrecy, raising concerns about whether British intelligence has played a role in Israeli military operations that have resulted in mass civilian casualties in Gaza.

The United Nations (UN) and affiliated experts have repeatedly conducted investigations that have found Israel to be committing genocide in Palestine.  And, UN experts have warned that states supplying or abetting Israel could have to answer for “serious international crimes.” Nevertheless, as Declassified reported:

The UK government insists that the flights are purely for hostage recovery, but the lack of transparency has done little to allay suspicions that the intelligence gathered may be facilitating Israeli attacks.

Palestine Action demonstrated the centrality of RAF Brize Norton:

From the military base, Airbus Atlas flights also travel to RAF Akrotiri. Atlas flights can carry soldiers, guns, ammunition, bombs and munitions. During the escalating genocide in Gaza, the British military have flown Atlas flights from Akrotiri to Tel Aviv, carrying soldiers and/or military cargo.

However, there’s been no official recognition of what the base has been used for, with Keir Starmer even saying:

Quite a bit of what goes on here can’t necessarily be talked about […] we can’t necessarily tell the world what you’re doing.

Now, why would that be? The state and military routinely use classified information as a way to avoid public scrutiny. However, given Israel’s numerous war crimes, they may well no longer be able to keep that information classified.

Pearl clutching time

Predictably, the response from corporate media and the government has been to discuss Palestine Action’s protest as ‘vandalism.’ Starmer took to social media to say:

The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful.

Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day.

It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.

Palestine Action quickly hit back:

It is YOUR responsibility to not be a war criminal.

It is YOUR responsibility to not play an active military role in genocide.

Now, It is our responsibility to do everything in our power to stop what YOU have allowed.

Time and time again, Palestine Action has shown that it has more moral clarity and backbone than this Labour government. Actionists have effected actual change and put themselves on the line to stand with Gaza. The longer this government allows Israel to continue its genocidal rampage on Palestine, the more it has to be considered culpable.

For anyone who’s genuinely horrified by a bit of paint chucked at military jets, perhaps have a think. Have you been that horrified by the blood, guts, and souls that Israel has spilled in its relentless extermination of Palestinian life? It doesn’t quite compare, does it?

Featured image via YouTube screenshot/Times News

By Maryam Jameela

This post was originally published on Canary.