CAGE Condemns Arrest of Anti-Genocide Actionists Under Draconian Terrorism Laws

CAGE International condemns the arrest of 6 Palestine Action anti-genocide actionists under draconian counter-terrorism legislation. The use of these powers to repress Palestine solidarity marks a significant legal escalation and assault on those who are opposing genocide in an attempt to intimidate those taking effective direct action.

On Tuesday, 6th August, a group of principled activists took decisive action at Elbit Systems’ Filton site in Bristol,  preventing the use of genocidal weapons housed within the facility. Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, opened this £35 million research, development, and manufacturing hub in June 2023, a move celebrated by the UK-Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely and Elbit's CEO Bezhalel Machlis.

These courageous actionists were acting to prevent the further arming of a regime currently on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice, the highest judicial authority in the world. Their actions were rooted in a commitment to save innocent lives by disrupting the supply chain of weapons used to perpetuate ongoing genocidal violence.

In a disturbing display of state repression, the actionists have been held since Tuesday 6 August, under the Terrorism Act 2000 on a seven-day warrant without charge. They are currently detained at Hammersmith and Newbury police stations. This abuse of counter-terrorism legislation is clearly designed to intimidate and silence those who dare to challenge the complicity of states and corporations in war crimes and human rights abuses. Direct action has proven so effective in challenging state-sanctioned atrocities that authorities are resorting to intimidation tactics and harsh legal measures to silence and undermine those who dare to take a stand.

CAGE International calls for the immediate release of these actionists. 

The actions of these six individuals should be recognised for what they are: a principled and necessary intervention to halt the killing of innocent civilians.