In a significant verdict delivered at London’s Woolwich Crown Court, four British pro-Palestinian activists have been found guilty of criminal damage in relation to their involvement in a raid conducted on an Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol, southwest England, in August 2024.

The assault was carried out by members of the now-banned Palestine Action group, which aimed to disrupt operations at the Israeli defense firm’s site.

Prosecutors have estimated that the attack resulted in approximately £1 million ($1.36 million) worth of damages, with the incident occurring during Israel's military operation in Gaza initiated in response to a deadly Hamas-led attack in October 2023.

The court convicted Charlotte Head, 30; Samuel Corner, 23; Leona Kamio, 30; and Fatema Zainab Rajwani, 21, of criminal damage.

Additionally, Corner was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm after striking a police officer with a sledgehammer during the protest.

Two other defendants, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, were acquitted of all charges.

Following an initial trial where all six defendants were cleared of aggravated burglary, the jury could not reach verdicts on the criminal damage charges.

However, the prosecution subsequently dropped charges of violent disorder against all six individuals.

The convictions come despite a High Court ruling that the ban imposed on Palestine Action under terrorism law was unlawful; the group remains banned as the government appeals this decision.

This case highlights the tensions between pro-Palestinian activism and the legal repercussions faced by those engaging in direct action to protest Israeli policies.