What’s being formally described as “vandalism” at RAF Brize Norton is being seen by many as one thing way more severe — a deliberate act of sabotage in opposition to operational army plane.
The incident, which befell on Wednesday, concerned members of the group Palestine Motion breaching safety at Britain’s largest airbase and damaging two RAF Voyager plane.
Utilizing electrical scooters to entry the bottom, the activists sprayed pink paint into the plane engines with repurposed fireplace extinguishers and reportedly used crowbars to inflict additional injury. Crimson paint was additionally unfold throughout the runway. The activists evaded rapid arrest.
Right here’s the footage from the current incident at RAF Brize Norton by which two Voyager plane had 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
The Ministry of Defence condemned the incident. A spokesperson stated: “We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Pressure property. We’re working carefully with the police who’re investigating. Our Armed Forces symbolize the perfect of Britain. They put their lives on the road for us, and their show of obligation, dedication and selfless private sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. It’s our accountability to assist those that defend us.”
Palestine Motion claimed accountability, stating that “by decommissioning two army planes, Palestine Motion have immediately intervened within the genocide and prevented crimes in opposition to the Palestinian folks.” The group additional alleged that: “From Cyprus, British planes acquire intelligence, refuel fighter jets and transport weapons to commit genocide in Gaza.”
This declare is factually inaccurate on a number of counts. The UK shouldn’t be supplying weapons to Israel to be used in Gaza, and the RAF Voyager plane in query usually are not concerned in operations supporting the Israeli army. Defence sources stress that these tankers primarily assist Operation Shader, the UK’s long-running mission in opposition to Islamic State (Daesh) in Iraq and Syria. As well as, the plane contribute to Fast Response Alert (QRA) missions, offering aerial refuelling for RAF Typhoons that shield British airspace.
Regardless of claims, British tankers can’t refuel Israeli jets
Furthermore, the technical declare that RAF tankers are refuelling Israeli plane shouldn’t be solely unsubstantiated however bodily not possible. RAF Voyagers use a probe-and-drogue system for aerial refuelling, which is suitable with UK and NATO plane. In distinction, Israeli quick jets require flying growth refuelling, a basically totally different technique utilized by US and Israeli tankers. The 2 techniques are incompatible.
A supply aware of RAF deployments described the assault as “totally pointless,” noting that the group’s assumptions reveal a lack of knowledge about how UK army aviation features. “The plane focused usually are not utilized in assist of Israeli forces. The UK operates independently and Israel has no requirement for British tankers – they function their very own fleet.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer referred to as the assault disgraceful, writing: “The act of vandalism dedicated at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. Our Armed Forces symbolize the perfect of Britain and put their lives on the road for us on daily basis. It’s our accountability to assist those that defend us.”
Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois warned of the broader implications, stating: “There are additionally severe questions for the MoD to reply about how ‘protesters’ – who may even have turned out to be armed terrorists – had been capable of achieve entry to what’s imagined to be a safe RAF airbase.”
Picture through Palestine Motion.