By Emeka Blast 
RAF Base Breach Leads to Proposed Ban for Palestine Action
On June 20, 2025, reports emerged that the UK Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is preparing to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000, following a high-profile security breach at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The decision comes after two activists from the pro-Palestinian group broke into the UK’s largest Royal Air Force base in the early hours of Friday, June 20, 2025, and vandalized two Airbus Voyager aircraft, causing significant concern about national security and prompting a review of military base defenses.
Details of the RAF Brize Norton Incident
The incident involved two Palestine Action activists who infiltrated RAF Brize Norton, a critical hub for UK strategic air transport and air-to-air refueling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The activists, using electric scooters for mobility, accessed the base undetected and carried out the following actions:
- Vandalism of Aircraft: They sprayed red paint, symbolizing “Palestinian bloodshed,” into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft using repurposed fire extinguishers and caused further damage with crowbars.
- Additional Damage: Red paint was sprayed across the runway, and a Palestinian flag was left at the scene.
- Evasion of Security: The activists reportedly escaped without being apprehended, highlighting a significant security lapse at the base, which is protected by a large perimeter fence, security cameras, sensors, and manned checkpoints.
Palestine Action claimed the action was intended to disrupt UK military support for Israel, specifically citing RAF flights from Brize Norton to Akrotiri, which they allege are used for reconnaissance missions over Gaza and to refuel US and Israeli fighter jets. The group stated, “By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.” However, a senior RAF source clarified that the Voyager aircraft have “the wrong connectors” to refuel Israeli or US jets, and a defense source told the BBC that the incident is not expected to affect RAF operations.
Move to Proscribe Palestine Action
Home Secretary’s Response: Yvette Cooper is preparing a written ministerial statement to be presented to Parliament on Monday, June 23, 2025, proposing the proscription of Palestine Action. If passed through new legislation, this would make it a criminal offense to be a member of or support the group. The decision follows calls from political figures, including Labour MP David Taylor, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, and Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, who labeled the break-in as “sabotage” and a “national security breach.”
Prime Minister’s Condemnation: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the incident as a “disgraceful act of vandalism” in a post on X, stating, “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.”
Jewish Community Response: Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Leadership Council and the Campaign Against Antisemitism, have long advocated for proscribing Palestine Action, citing its history of targeting Jewish businesses, charities, and Israel-linked companies. A spokesperson for the Jewish Leadership Council said, “From targeting the offices of Jewish organizations to damaging RAF aircraft that keep our nation safe, it is clear that Palestine Action are willing to use all levels of disruption, criminality, and violence to advance their warped ideological worldview.”
Palestine Action’s Defense: The group responded defiantly, stating, “If they want to ban us, they ban us all,” claiming to represent “every individual” opposed to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. They argued that their actions were justified under Section 1 of the Genocide Convention, asserting that the UK is obliged to prevent and punish genocide.
Investigations and Security Review
- Counter-Terrorism Investigation: South East Counter Terrorism Police, alongside Thames Valley Police and the Ministry of Defence Police, are leading an investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. No arrests have been reported as of June 20, 2025.
- Security Review: The Ministry of Defence has launched a security review across UK military bases to address vulnerabilities exposed by the breach. RAF Brize Norton, with approximately 5,800 service personnel, 300 civilian staff, and 1,200 contractors, is a high-security site, and the incident has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the RAF Regiment and Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS). Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois called the breach “totally reprehensible,” demanding answers from the MoD on how such access was possible.
- Damage Assessment: RAF engineers are assessing the damage to the two Voyager aircraft, which are part of a fleet of 10 used for refueling and transport. While Palestine Action claimed the planes were “put out of service,” defense sources indicate that operations are unlikely to be disrupted. The aircraft have been impounded for further investigation.
Context of Palestine Action’s Activities
Palestine Action’s History: Formed in 2020, Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian activist group that engages in direct action to disrupt operations of companies and institutions it believes are complicit in Israeli actions against Palestinians. The group has previously targeted arms manufacturers like Elbit Systems, corporate banks, and defense-linked sites, using tactics such as trespassing, vandalism, and supply chain disruptions. In May 2025, they claimed responsibility for vandalizing a US military plane in Ireland.
Motivations for the RAF Brize Norton Action: The group targeted RAF Brize Norton due to its role in flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which they claim supports Israel’s actions in Gaza through reconnaissance missions and logistical support for US and Israeli forces. While the UK has publicly condemned aspects of Israel’s military actions, Palestine Action argues that Britain is “an active participant” in what they term “genocide” in Gaza.
Legal Context: RAF Brize Norton is a designated protected site under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, making unauthorized entry a criminal offense. The activists face potential charges of criminal damage, trespass on a protected site, and possibly terrorism-related offenses due to the nature of the target and intent to disrupt military operations. The proscription of Palestine Action, if enacted, would significantly escalate legal consequences for its members, with membership carrying a potential seven-year prison sentence.
Public and Political Reactions
- Political Outrage: The breach has sparked widespread condemnation. Former Defence Secretary Sir Grant Shapps called it a “national security breach,” while Labour MP David Taylor argued that Palestine Action’s actions “crossed the line into criminality” and warranted proscription under terrorism laws. Lord Walney, a former government adviser on political violence, described the incident as a “grotesque breach of military security.”
- Security Concerns: Posts on X, such as one from @Miroandrej, criticized the government’s response as an “overreaction” to deflect from security failures, suggesting that addressing vulnerabilities at military bases should take precedence over banning the group. Others, like @MarkGardnerCST, expressed frustration that Palestine Action had not been proscribed earlier, citing years of calls from Jewish organizations.
- Support for Proscription: Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick have been vocal in demanding a ban, with Farage stating, “Palestine Action must be proscribed as a terrorist organisation after the attack on RAF planes at Brize Norton.” The Campaign Against Antisemitism, which wrote to Yvette Cooper on June 12, 2025, with a dossier of evidence, welcomed the move.
- Mixed Sentiments: While some X users, like @iISeeNoSignals, noted that the “horse already bolted” regarding security failures, others, like @Torydemocrats, supported the ban, reflecting polarized views on the group’s actions and the government’s response.
Broader Implications
The decision to proscribe Palestine Action has significant implications:
- Impact on Activism: Banning the group could suppress pro-Palestinian activism, as membership or support would become illegal, potentially chilling free expression. Palestine Action’s defiant response suggests they may attempt to circumvent the ban, possibly by rebranding or operating covertly.
- Security Reforms: The breach has exposed vulnerabilities at RAF Brize Norton, prompting a nationwide review of military base security. This could lead to increased funding for perimeter defenses, surveillance, and personnel training.
- Political Tensions: The move to proscribe Palestine Action may escalate tensions in the UK’s polarized debate over the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly amid recent Middle East developments, such as Israel’s airstrikes on Iran. Campaigners and some X users argue that the ban deflects from addressing root causes, such as UK foreign policy.
- Legal Precedent: Proscribing Palestine Action would place it alongside groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, raising questions about the threshold for labeling activism as terrorism. Critics may argue that this sets a precedent for targeting other protest groups.
Conclusion
The planned proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, announced on June 20, 2025, follows a serious security breach at RAF Brize Norton, where two activists vandalized military aircraft to protest UK support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. The incident, involving red paint and crowbar damage to Airbus Voyager planes, has sparked a counter-terrorism investigation, a military security review, and widespread political condemnation. While Palestine Action claims their actions disrupted “genocide,” RAF sources downplay operational impacts, and the Home Secretary’s move to ban the group reflects growing pressure to address their escalating tactics. The decision, pending parliamentary approval, underscores tensions between national security, activism, and the UK’s role in the Middle East conflict. For updates, follow news outlets like BBC News or check the Met Office for related weather impacts, as thunderstorms may affect ongoing investigations.
