Brize Norton case timeline: from October 2023 to the January 2027 trial
A dated timeline of the RAF Brize Norton case, from the start of Israel's campaign in Gaza in October 2023 to the trial due in January 2027, covering the protest, charges and court rulings.
Key points
- The protest at RAF Brize Norton took place on 20 June 2025, a day after Voyager ZZ343 landed at the base from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
- Charges followed in July 2025, and the trial date of January 2027 was set on 18 July 2025.
- The High Court ruled the ban on Palestine Action unlawful on 13 February 2026. The Court of Appeal reinstated the ban on 15 June 2026.
- The Supreme Court heard the challenge to the ban on 4 and 5 November 2026. The trial is due to begin on 25 January 2027 at Woolwich Crown Court.
Voyager ZZ343 landed at Brize Norton from RAF Akrotiri at 13:57 on 19 June 2025, the day before the protest at the base.
- Hamas attacks Israel; Israel's military campaign in Gaza beginsInternational
- MoD confirms 32 RAF flights from Akrotiri to Israel since 7 OctoberMilitary
- RAF surveillance flights over Gaza beginMilitary
- Israeli Air Force plane from Nevatim lands at Brize NortonMilitary
- ICJ orders Israel to take emergency steps under the Genocide ConventionInternational
- Government admits nine IAF planes used British territory since 7 OctoberPolitical
- ICJ advisory opinion: occupation unlawful; other states must not assist itInternational
- UK suspends about 30 export licences to Israel but exempts F-35 partsPolitical
- ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and GallantInternational
- Amnesty International concludes Israel is committing genocideInternational
- Israeli Re'em refuelling plane on the ground at Brize Norton for 13+ hoursMilitary
- Israel–Iran war begins; UK sends extra Voyagers to CyprusMilitary
- ZZ343 lands at Brize Norton from Akrotiri at 13:57Military
- The protest at RAF Brize NortonLegal
- Home Secretary announces plan to ban Palestine ActionPolitical
- First four accused charged and remandedLegal
- Fifth accused, Muhammad Umer Khalid, arrestedLegal
- UN Commission of Inquiry concludes Israel has committed genocideInternational
- Hunger strike by prisoners beginsLegal
- Declassified UK: MoD cannot substantiate the damage figuresLegal
- First five plead not guiltyLegal
- High Court rules the ban on Palestine Action unlawfulPolitical
- Lara Downes charged as the sixth accusedLegal
- Filton defendants sentenced with a 'terrorist connection'Legal
- Court of Appeal reinstates the banPolitical
- Supreme Court hears the challenge to the banPolitical
- Trial due to begin at Woolwich Crown CourtLegal
Source: Briefing timeline; sources listed at the end of this article
Show the data
| Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 2023 | Hamas attacks Israel; Israel's military campaign in Gaza begins | International |
| 27 Nov 2023 | MoD confirms 32 RAF flights from Akrotiri to Israel since 7 October | Military |
| 3 Dec 2023 | RAF surveillance flights over Gaza begin | Military |
| 25 Dec 2023 | Israeli Air Force plane from Nevatim lands at Brize Norton | Military |
| 26 Jan 2024 | ICJ orders Israel to take emergency steps under the Genocide Convention | International |
| 6 Feb 2024 | Government admits nine IAF planes used British territory since 7 October | Political |
| 19 Jul 2024 | ICJ advisory opinion: occupation unlawful; other states must not assist it | International |
| 2 Sep 2024 | UK suspends about 30 export licences to Israel but exempts F-35 parts | Political |
| 21 Nov 2024 | ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant | International |
| 5 Dec 2024 | Amnesty International concludes Israel is committing genocide | International |
| 9 Jun 2025 | Israeli Re'em refuelling plane on the ground at Brize Norton for 13+ hours | Military |
| 13 Jun 2025 | Israel–Iran war begins; UK sends extra Voyagers to Cyprus | Military |
| 19 Jun 2025 | ZZ343 lands at Brize Norton from Akrotiri at 13:57 | Military |
| 20 Jun 2025 | The protest at RAF Brize Norton | Legal |
| 23 Jun 2025 | Home Secretary announces plan to ban Palestine Action | Political |
| Early Jul 2025 | First four accused charged and remanded | Legal |
| 1 Aug 2025 | Fifth accused, Muhammad Umer Khalid, arrested | Legal |
| 16 Sep 2025 | UN Commission of Inquiry concludes Israel has committed genocide | International |
| 2 Nov 2025 | Hunger strike by prisoners begins | Legal |
| 13 Nov 2025 | Declassified UK: MoD cannot substantiate the damage figures | Legal |
| 16 Jan 2026 | First five plead not guilty | Legal |
| 13 Feb 2026 | High Court rules the ban on Palestine Action unlawful | Political |
| Mid-2026 | Lara Downes charged as the sixth accused | Legal |
| 12 Jun 2026 | Filton defendants sentenced with a 'terrorist connection' | Legal |
| 15 Jun 2026 | Court of Appeal reinstates the ban | Political |
| 4–5 Nov 2026 | Supreme Court hears the challenge to the ban | Political |
| 25 Jan 2027 | Trial due to begin at Woolwich Crown Court | Legal |
#Before the protest (October 2023 to 19 June 2025)
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 7 Oct 2023 | Hamas attacks Israel; Israel's military campaign in Gaza begins |
| 25 Oct 2023 | First RAF Shadow R1 surveillance plane recorded at RAF Akrotiri |
| 27 Nov 2023 | Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirms 32 RAF flights from Akrotiri to Israel since 7 October |
| 3 Dec 2023 | RAF surveillance flights over Gaza begin |
| 25 Dec 2023 | Israeli Air Force (IAF) plane from Nevatim lands at Brize Norton |
| Jan–Feb 2024 | Voyagers ZZ338 and ZZ343 deploy to Akrotiri around each UK strike on Yemen |
| 26 Jan 2024 | International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders Israel to take emergency steps under the Genocide Convention |
| 6 Feb 2024 | Government admits nine IAF planes used British territory since 7 October |
| 13 Feb 2024 | RAF Shadow R1 lands in Israel for two hours |
| 1 Apr 2024 | UK surveillance flight airborne when Israel kills three British aid workers |
| 19 Jul 2024 | ICJ advisory opinion: occupation unlawful; other states must not assist it |
| 2 Sep 2024 | UK suspends about 30 export licences to Israel but exempts F-35 parts |
| Sep 2024 – 9 Jun 2025 | At least nine IAF planes land at Brize Norton, including Re'em refuelling aircraft |
| 21 Nov 2024 | International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant |
| 5 Dec 2024 | Amnesty International concludes Israel is committing genocide |
| 27 Mar 2025 | AOAV's count reaches 518 RAF surveillance flights over or near Gaza |
| 29 Apr 2025 | RAF Typhoons, refuelled by Voyagers flying from Akrotiri, join a US strike on a Houthi drone factory in Yemen (neither damaged plane involved) |
| 20 May – 15 Jun 2025 | ZZ343 deployed at Akrotiri, flying at least 12 local sorties |
| Mid-Jun 2025 | Israel–Iran war; UK sends extra Voyagers to Cyprus |
| 10–18 Jun 2025 | ZZ338 at Akrotiri; flies a local sortie on 13 June, the day the Israel–Iran war begins |
| 19 Jun 2025 | Minister tells Parliament the surveillance flights are only to find hostages |
| 19 Jun 2025 | ZZ343 lands at Brize Norton from Akrotiri at 13:57; ZZ338 flies a tanker sortie from Brize Norton |
#The protest and the charges (20 June 2025 to November 2025)
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 20 Jun 2025 | The protest at RAF Brize Norton |
| 23 Jun 2025 | Home Secretary announces plan to ban Palestine Action |
| 1 Jul 2025 | ZZ338 flying again |
| Early Jul 2025 | First four accused charged and remanded; MPs vote to ban Palestine Action |
| 12 Jul 2025 | ZZ343 flies to Akrotiri |
| 18 Jul 2025 | Trial date set for January 2027 |
| 1 Aug 2025 | Muhammad Umer Khalid arrested; appears at the Old Bailey on 22 August as the fifth accused |
| 2 Nov 2025 | Hunger strike by Palestine Action prisoners begins |
| 13 Nov 2025 | Declassified UK reports the MoD cannot substantiate the damage figures |
#2026
Filton is a separate prosecution in Bristol linked to a 2024 incident at an Elbit Systems site.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 16 Jan 2026 | First five accused plead not guilty |
| 4 Feb 2026 | Filton jury acquits six of the most serious charges |
| 13 Feb 2026 | High Court rules the ban on Palestine Action unlawful |
| Mid-2026 | Lara Downes charged as the sixth accused |
| May – 12 Jun 2026 | Filton retrial: four convicted and sentenced with a "terrorist connection" |
| 15 Jun 2026 | Court of Appeal reinstates the ban |
| Oct 2026 | Lara Downes denies the charges |
| 4–5 Nov 2026 | Supreme Court hears the challenge to the ban |
#What comes next
No Supreme Court ruling on the ban or decision on the Filton appeal has been recorded yet. The four sentenced Filton defendants are seeking permission to appeal.
The trial of the six accused is due to begin on 25 January 2027 at Woolwich Crown Court.
Questions and answers
When did the Brize Norton protest happen?
The protest at RAF Brize Norton took place in the early hours of 20 June 2025.
When is the Brize Norton trial?
The six accused are due to face trial at Woolwich Crown Court, from 25 January 2027.
Sources
- Pro-Palestinian activists break into UK military base
- Four face 2027 trial over alleged Palestine Action aircraft damage
- Gravely ill pro-Palestine activist ends hunger, thirst strike in UK prison
- Pro-Palestinian activists acquitted of burglary at Israeli arms site in UK
- In landmark case, UK judge sentences pro-Palestine activists as terrorists
- Palestine Action prisoners to appeal 'terrorist' sentences
