Latest news with #activists
Al Bawaba
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Video: Two fighter jets damaged as Pro-Palestinian activists breach UK base
ALBAWABA - It was Friday that two activists from the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action broke into a British Royal Air Force base and damaged two military planes as a protest against the UK's backing for Israeli military activities. Also Read Iran targets key Microsoft research building The accident took place at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, which is one of the biggest military airbases in the UK. The activists painted a Voyager plane red and used crowbars to do more damage, according to a statement from the group. The main things these planes do are refill and carry military supplies. Palestine Action posted a video of the event on social media and said it was a direct protest against Britain's continued military backing for Israel during the war in Gaza. According to Reuters, the group said in a statement, "Even though the UK publicly condemns Israel's actions, it continues to send weapons to Israel, fly surveillance over Gaza, and refuel Israeli and American fighter jets." The group said that the UK government was "not just involved, but actively involved in the genocide in Gaza and in war crimes across the Middle East." اقتحم ناشطون مؤيدون لفلسطين من منظمة فلسطين أكشن قاعدة بريز نورتون الجوية التابعة لسلاح الجو الملكي البريطاني، وهي أكبر قاعدة جوية في المملكة المتحدة، وقاموا بتخريب طائرتين من طراز إيرباص فوييجر للتزود بالوقود - حيث قاموا برش الطلاء الأحمر على المحركات وإتلافها باستخدام العتلات. — Arab-Military (@ashrafnsier) June 20, 2025 Since the fighting in Gaza got worse, Palestine Action has become known for taking direct action against British military companies and institutions with ties to Israel. The group said that the targeted planes, which are Voyagers made by Airbus, can carry military weapons and refuel fighter jets from the UK, the US, and Israel while they are in the air. The UK Ministry of Defense has not yet made a public statement about the leak or how bad the damage is. There is probably a review going on.
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
UK Launches Security Review Over Vandalized Military Jets
The UK will conduct a full review of security at its biggest airbase after a pro-Palestine activist group posted a video on X claiming to have damaged two military aircraft there. The video shows at least two people traveling across an airfield at night on motorized scooters, and includes footage of one of them spraying red paint onto a plane. The group, Palestine Action, said it had damaged two aircraft at the Brize Norton Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire.
News24
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
Pro-Palestinian activists damage planes at military base in protest of ‘complicit' Britain
Pro-Palestinian activists in Britain said they had broken into a Royal Air Force base in central England on Friday and damaged two military aircraft used for refuelling and transportation. The campaign group, Palestine Action, said two of its activists had entered the Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and had sprayed red paint over the Voyager aircraft and caused further damage with crowbars. "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets," a spokesperson for the group said in a statement, while a video of the alleged incident was posted on social media. "Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East." There was no immediate response from Britain's Ministry of Defence or the local police. Palestine Action is among groups that have regularly targeted defence firms and other companies in Britain linked to Israel since the start of the conflict in Gaza. "The targeted planes are Airbus Voyagers, which can carry military cargo and are used to refuel Israeli/US/UK military aircrafts and fighter jets," its statement said.
Mail & Guardian
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Egypt stops Global March on Gaza in its tracks
Protest: About 4 000 people from about 80 countries met in Cairo and had planned to walk 45km from el-Arish in Egypt's North Sanai Governorate to Rafah on the southern border of the Gaza Strip. But they were stopped before even reaching the border. Photo: Jimi Matthews The day started with fear and uncertainty. We had arrived in Cairo two days before amid rumours of detentions, assaults, and deportations. A former colleague of mine had warned, 'Watch your back, the authorities are hectic.' I was in Egypt to join the Global March on Gaza scheduled for Friday 13 June. About 4 000 activists from more than 80 countries had responded to the call to go to the border of Egypt and Gaza, set up a camp and demand the opening of humanitarian corridors into Gaza and an end to the siege. The idea was to meet in Cairo, board a convoy of buses and to travel to the town of el-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula. Carrying rucksacks, sleeping bags and tents, the participants would then march 45 kilometres on foot to the Rafah border. Arriving in Cairo as tourists, we would be informed where the pick-up points for the buses would be. We had also been informed that the Egyptian authorities had been approached for permission to proceed to el-Arish. Even before leaving South Africa, we had heard that people were being turned back at the airport in Cairo or that some who had cleared customs were being rounded up and deported. The atmosphere was reminiscent of those old spy movies set in the Eastern Bloc. 'Be careful who you speak to, try not to attract any attention, don't venture out on your own, beware, even the walls have ears.' Stories of the notoriety of Egyptian prison conditions and the 'disappearance' of people were rife. There were also stories of people who had been attacked by locals opposed to our presence. And above all, that the march would not be allowed. And so we spent Thursday night huddled in our hotels like fugitives. Surreptitiously we were instructed to be ready to leave at 7am. Directions to the pick-up points would be issued just before we leave the hotel. Later on, the departure time was changed to 12.30. In the reception area our cohort was informed of a further change in plans. For security reasons we would no longer be travelling by bus. We needed to divide ourselves into groups of three and call for a taxi or an Uber and head off to an address provided. We were instructed to leave the hotel one group at a time, to be followed by the next, only if the previous group had informed the others that they were in their respective vehicles and on their way. We (myself and two other South Africans) were the first to leave. With rucksacks on our backs and the best wishes of our fellow travellers, we stepped into the blinding midday sunlight and made our way to the street corner where our Uber would pick us up. Muhammed, our driver, a pleasant affable chap, offered us a cigarette, as we set off on the highway out of Cairo. About an hour out of Cairo we reached the Kamphashir toll station. It was chaos. Cars, tourist buses and minicabs were being held up by dozens and dozens of law enforcement types, some in uniforms, others in plain clothes, all of them armed. There was also a military presence. People were being asked for their passports and told to step out of their vehicles and wait on the side of the road. Amid it all, we concocted a story that we were heading to a youth hostel just beyond the toll gate to spend a few days at the ocean. After handing over our passports and having our phones scrutinised, we were told to join the masses on the side of the road. Nobody seemed to know what was going on except that it was quite obvious that the authorities were onto us. We speculated that we would probably be forced onto the police transport vehicles and either taken directly to the airport to be deported or, worse, taken to a detention centre. Some of the organisers tried to negotiate our safe passage to continue. After about an hour the authorities offered back our passports on condition that we returned to Cairo. And because most of the taxis and Uber drivers had understandably left the scene, we would have to make use of the transport provided by the police. A few 'delegates' took up the offer but the majority of the roughly 250 people chose to stay put, determined to continue on our mission. The decision was also taken that if we were not allowed to proceed then we would set up camp right there on the side of the road. The rejection of the offer seemed to infuriate the officers present. After almost three hours in the scorching heat, we were penned in a confined space and told to wait as more military and crowd control vehicles rolled up. Men armed with Kalashnikovs and other weaponry surrounded us. About 4 000 people from about 80 countries met in Cairo and had planned to walk 45km from el-Arish in Egypt's North Sanai Governorate to Rafah on the southern border of the Gaza Strip. But they were stopped before even reaching the border. Photo: Jimi Matthews We were informed that we would not be allowed to proceed with our journey and that if we did not board the buses that had now replaced the police vehicles we would not get our passports back. During the standoff we made the most of the solidarity inspired by comrades rallying around a common cause. There were activists from around the world, sharing what food and water that they had. Young people chanting the now universally known slogans in support of Palestine. A small group of Turkish musicians, playing traditional instruments and singing soulful songs, kept us entertained. Despite the oppressive heat, our spirits were high, united in our determination not to be moved. And then, unannounced, a bunch of large burly men, bouncer types, descended on us. Senior activists advised the group to sit down, remain calm, interlock our arms and offer no resistance. In the face of barked commands and threats, a group of young people started singing freedom songs in support of Palestine. On command, the men suddenly started grabbing at those on the fringes. Any resistance was met by hard body blows and kicks. Some people also suffered baton blows to the body. In the ensuing panic we were forced to board the buses. Still shook up, I realised I was on the wrong bus. In the bus alongside singing broke out and the young people were rocking again, undaunted by the threats of violence. We were kept waiting on the buses until our passports were returned to each of us. In the dark we headed back to Cairo. And then on the outskirts of Cairo we were unceremoniously dropped off, two or three at a time, at random intervals. Still shook up we made our way back to the hotel. As I reflected on the day, I realised we had won. We were not cowered. We did not make it to Rafah but we did not capitulate. Our demand for the humanitarian aid corridors to Gaza to be opened and an end to the siege remain. Jimi Matthews is a writer, photographer, editor, cameraman and producer. He covered the First Intifada in 1989 and has visited the Occupied Territories many times since then. His work included a major photo exhibition of his visit in 2023.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Moment furious hotel worker fights back against crowd of anti-tourism protesters as they seal off his business in Barcelona and bombard it with water guns and smoke canisters
A furious hotel worker fought back against a crowd of anti-tourism protesters who tried to seal off his workplace in Barcelona. Thousands of people took to the streets across Spain to demonstrate against overtourism on Sunday, with protestors seen firing water pistols at shop windows, setting off coloured smoke and clashing with police. Dramatic footage taken from outside a hotel called Generator shows an agitated worker as he confronted protesters saying he was 'only working' after furious activists tried to cordon off the building with tape. In the clip, the unnamed worker walks out of the hotel and cuts the tape off with a pair of scissors. But protesters erupt in anger and start to boo and blow whistles at the man while they quickly tape up the entrance of the hotel again and push him inside. In a separate video, the employee is seen spitting at the swarms of protesters, while another recording shows him taking a water pistol off a demonstrator to spray water on them. MailOnline has approached the hotel for comment. Authorities in the north eastern Spanish city said around 600 people joined the demonstration over the weekend. The employee is seen spitting at the swarms of protesters and firing a water gun at them Barcelona city of 1.6 million, drew 26 million tourists last year. There were similar demonstrations in other parts of Spain including Ibiza, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, San Sebastian and Granada. Thousands marching were heard telling Brits to 'go home' as they banged drums and chanted slogans at stunned tourists as they enjoyed their evening meals. The protests were organised by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification (SET), and are supported by local activist groups. Many locals living in tourist hotspots in Spain believe the industry's model has become too excessive. They say the numbers of visitors continue to increase year by year, creating an increasing demand on local resources. They also complain that the overwhelming amount of tourist activity is causing environmental pollution, particularly in Tenerife, where natural landscapes are not being properly protected by local authorities, while a surge in pleasure boats and sewage waste are polluting the marine environment, they claim. More importantly, the explosion of Airbnb-style properties has seen property prices surge over the past five to 10 years. In holiday hotspots, landlords are choosing to rent to tourists instead of selling or renting to local families. A This is stripping housing supply and making the available stock far more expensive and out of reach for a growing number of locals. The protesters marched for over a kilometre before gathering in Plaza de Reina near to the seafront. A series of activists gave speeches demanding a 'drastic' change in laws regarding the tourism industry - including banning Airbnb style properties from the island. Dozens of officers from the armed National Police force were seen escorting the protesters throughout the march, which ended without incident. In Ibiza, another popular Spanish island for British holidaymakers, similar protests took place demanding reductions to tourism. Around 1,000 protesters took part in the march organised by major anti-tourism platform Canviem el Rumb, which has been carrying out demonstrations in the Spanish holiday hotspot over the last year. Security was stepped up to protect tourists from the demonstrators, who left Portal de Ses Taules in the town centre at around 6pm and ended at Plaza de sa Graduada, in front of the courts at 9pm. The protests aim to keep pressure on governments to address the problems generated by tourism, including rising rents, housing shortages and environmental damage. Activists believe the current tourism model is 'unsustainable' and pushing the islands toward collapse. They want to limit the number of tourists visiting the islands, ban new hotel construction and introduce a tougher tourist tax, among other measures.
