Key facts
- Four Palestine Action activists were sentenced as terrorists by a British court.
- The activists caused over £1.2m in damage to an Israeli arms factory in Bristol.
- The judge cited a "terrorism connection" due to the property damage and the aim to influence the British government.
- Samuel Corner received the longest sentence of seven years and eight months.
- Iran's Foreign Minister stated a US-Iran memorandum to end a war is close.
- President Trump dismissed reports about the Iran deal as "fake news".
Four activists from the group Palestine Action have been sentenced as terrorists by a British judge for their role in a 2024 raid on an Israeli arms factory near Bristol. The judge, Jeremy Johnson, stated there was a "terrorism connection" to the crime because of the "serious property damage" to Israeli weapons and the defendants' aim to influence the British government to end its support for Israel.
Samuel Corner received the longest sentence, seven years and eight months, for his actions during the raid. The activists were accused of causing over £1.2 million ($1.34 million) in damage to the Elbit Systems UK facility, destroying approximately 40 weapons, including "killer drones" they claimed were used in Gaza. The group Palestine Action, which has since been banned, stated their aim was to "dismantle drones and weaponry" believed to be used in the conflict.
Outside the court, around 500 protesters gathered in support of the activists, leading to 72 arrests. The Filton 25 Defence Committee, a group supporting the activists, highlighted the destruction of weapons intended for use in Gaza.
In separate developments, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that a memorandum of understanding with the United States to end a war is "never been closer," and that $24 billion in Iranian assets would be unfrozen as part of the potential deal. However, US President Donald Trump dismissed reports about the deal as "fake news" and criticized Iran for alleged leaks to state media. The US military also reported shooting down Iranian drones in the Strait of Hormuz. The UN Security Council has condemned the killing of a Serbian UNIFIL peacekeeper in southern Lebanon.