Brize Norton pro-Palestine protestor on fifth week of hunger strike
Amu Gib was one of five people charged by counter-terrorism police for allegedly taking part in the break in
An Oxford resident accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton as part of a pro-Palestine protest has been on hunger strike for more than five weeks while in prison.
A group of protestors broke into the air base in the early hours of June 20 and sprayed red paint on two Voyager planes.
Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the break in, stating that it was in protest of the UK’s support for Israel in the war in Gaza, including sending military cargo, flying spy planes over Gaza and refuelling US and Israeli fighter jets.
It was proscribed as a terrorist organisation shortly after the incident, which has led to more than 2000 people being arrested for pledging support for the group.
Amu Gib, aged 30, who has no fixed abode, was one of five people charged by counter-terrorism police for allegedly taking part in the break in.
They have been remanded in custody at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey since July, and their trial is not due until January 2027.
Gib began a hunger strike on November 2, alongside five other prisoners.
They said they hoped that “every year of my life will act as a handful of sand in the gears of this imperialist killing machine. And that we live to see the day it eventually, inevitably, grinds to a halt.”
The other four who were charged were Jony Cink, aged 24 of no fixed abode, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, aged 35, of London, Lewie Chiaramello, aged 22, of London, and Muhammad Umer Khalid, aged 22, of no fixed abode.
They were accused of offences under the Criminal Law act of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited placed knowingly for purposes prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdon.
It is now a criminal offence to pledge support for or be a member of Palestine Action, which is punishable with up to 14 years in prison.
Baptist Minister James Grote was arrested in after holding a banner that read “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” in Oxford’s Bonn Square in August.
Former Oxford city councillor Imogen Thomas was also among hundreds who were arrested for sitting in Parliament Square in Westminster and holding signs supporting Palestine Action.
Palestine Action is challenging the Government’s ban at judicial review, and is awaiting the final verdict from the High Court.
More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched a military campaign after the Hamas attack on October 7 2023, where 1,200 people were killed.
Despite the ceasefire which began this October, Israel has continued to carry out air strikes, arguing that this is due to violations of the ceasefire agreement.