Two plane at RAF Brize Norton have been broken on Wednesday by members of the group Palestine Motion, who declare the assault was aimed toward disrupting what they describe because the UK’s help for Israeli navy operations in Gaza and broader Western navy exercise within the Center East.
In line with the group, two activists entered the airbase—Britain’s largest—and used electrical scooters to method two RAF Voyager plane. They sprayed pink paint, mentioned to symbolise Palestinian blood, into the planes’ engines utilizing repurposed hearth extinguishers, and reportedly used crowbars to inflict additional injury. Crimson paint was additionally unfold throughout the runway. The activists concerned managed to evade instant arrest.
RAF Brize Norton serves because the hub for UK strategic air transport and aerial refuelling, together with flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The Cypriot base has been used to launch RAF surveillance and help missions associated to conflicts within the Center East, together with operations regarding Gaza, Syria, and Yemen.
Right here’s the footage from the current incident at RAF Brize Norton wherein two Voyager plane have been broken by spray paint and crowbars by Palestine Motion members. These plane, regardless of claims made by the group, aren’t concerned in Israeli operations. pic.twitter.com/7OnnedZBoV
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) June 20, 2025
In a press release, Palestine Motion mentioned: “By decommissioning two navy planes, Palestine Motion have immediately intervened within the genocide and prevented crimes in opposition to the Palestinian individuals,” the assertion continued.
The group referenced the usage of RAF Voyagers for in-air refuelling of UK, US, and Israeli navy plane. Nevertheless, current flight monitoring means that the RAF missions contain help for Operation Shader — the UK’s ongoing counter-Daesh (ISIS) operation in Iraq and Syria — and are unrelated to Israeli navy actions.
The group claimed the plane have been concerned in operations supporting Israeli navy motion in Gaza, however defence sources dismissed this as “completely inaccurate.” RAF Voyagers based mostly at Brize Norton are primarily used to help Operation Shader, the UK’s ongoing mission in opposition to Daesh in Iraq and Syria. An RAF supply acquainted with present deployments mentioned: “This assault was totally pointless. The plane focused usually are not utilized in help of Israeli forces. The UK operates independently and Israel has no requirement for British tankers — they function their very own fleet. The claims made by the group present a whole misunderstanding of how RAF operations work.”
Palestine Motion’s actions drew swift criticism on-line, with issues raised about safety breaches at a serious British navy set up and the potential penalties of damaging operational plane.
A Ministry of Defence Spokesperson mentioned:
“We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Power belongings. We’re working carefully with the police who’re investigating. Our Armed Forces signify the easiest of Britain. They put their lives on the road for us, and their show of responsibility, dedication and selfless private sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. It’s our accountability to help those that defend us.”
Shadow Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois mentioned:
“After the current tragic lack of the Air India 787, any try to intrude with the engines of a giant plane, notably one which could ferry troops and their households, or be concerned in very important air-to-air refuelling missions, is completely reprehensible.
There are additionally critical questions for the MoD to reply about how ‘protesters’ – who would possibly even have turned out to be armed terrorists – have been in a position to acquire entry to what’s speculated to be a safe RAF airbase.”
Picture through Palestine Motion