‘We just disappeared’: Palestine Action defendant recalls ‘horrifying’ arrest

What Happened

Hannah Davidson, 53, a defendant in the Palestine Action trial, testified at the Old Bailey in early February 2025 about her arrest and detention by counter-terrorism police following the 6 August 2024 raid on an Elbit Systems plant in Filton, near Bristol. She described being arrested at her Edinburgh home on 7 August 2024 and transferred to a counter-terrorism unit in Newbury, claiming she was held for four to six days without contact or legal representation, though under cross-examination by prosecutor Deanna Heer she conceded she spoke to a lawyer 31.5 hours after arrest. Davidson denied coordinating the raid, stating she only agreed to be a driver days before the action, and described watching videos of the Gaza war as a turning point in her activism. Davidson is one of eight defendants charged with violent disorder and criminal damage under joint enterprise; they are not alleged to have entered the factory but are accused of planning and support roles. On 3 February 2025, judge Patrick Field acquitted defendant William Plastow, 35, of violent disorder due to insufficient evidence. The remaining defendants deny the charges. The trial continues.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The trial highlights the UK's use of counter-terrorism policing and joint enterprise charges against pro-Palestinian activists targeting Israeli arms suppliers. It raises legal and human rights concerns about protest suppression and connects directly to the Gaza war, as defendants cite Israel's military campaign as motivation. The case tests the boundaries of criminal liability for political actions linked to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Watch For

Monitor the trial's verdicts for the remaining defendants, expected later in 2025. Watch for any appeals or legal challenges to joint enterprise applications or counter-terrorism arrest powers. Also note potential reactions from human rights organizations and any impact on Palestine Action's future activities.