Pro-Palestinian activists broke into the U.K.’s largest air drive base in southeast England and vandalised two planes in an act condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “disgraceful” on Friday (June 20, 2025).
“The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful,” Mr. Starmer mentioned on X after marketing campaign group Palestine Action posted a video claiming to point out its activist breaking into the Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire.
In the video posted on X, the activists seem to spray a airplane with purple paint whereas roaming the base on scooters.
“Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military aircrafts,” claimed the group, which has been behind a number of stunts protesting the UK’s position within the battle between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
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“We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating,” the Ministry of Defence mentioned.
Local police mentioned they launched an investigation into reviews of “criminal damage” and a break-in.
RAF Brize Norton serves as a hub for air-to-air refuelling forces and helps abroad operations, together with flights to the RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Britain’s largest air drive base within the Middle East.
According to British media, one of many planes vandalised was an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker.
“Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets,” Palestine Action mentioned in an announcement.
“Britain isn’t just complicit, it’s an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East.” Last month, the group claimed duty for vandalising a US army plane in Ireland.
Starmer’s Labour authorities suspended round 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel final September, citing a “risk” they could possibly be utilized in violations of worldwide legislation.
But the UK continues to provide elements for F-35 fighter jets to a world pool that Israel is ready to entry.
Israel has repeatedly denied allegations that it’s committing a genocide in Gaza throughout its 20-month-long army marketing campaign following Hamas’s assault on October 7, 2023.
