Hundreds assembled at RAF High Wycombe as pro-Palestine
demonstrators called out “RAF shame on you,” demanding an immediate end to
British military collaboration with Israel, including an arms embargo. Key
organisers included the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, with statements from
activists and community leaders, and a coordinated response from local police.
Protesters Mass Outside RAF High Wycombe in Call for Action
The bold, resonant chants of “RAF shame on you” echoed
outside RAF High Wycombe on Saturday, as hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters
rallied to demand the United Kingdom cease all military collaboration with
Israel and impose an arms embargo. The high-profile demonstration, orchestrated
by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and allied groups, drew sharp
statements from activists and underscored the growing tension surrounding
British involvement in the Israel-Gaza conflict as reported by Sam Hall of The
Independent and The Evening Standard.
Chants of 'Shame' and Calls for Accountability
Demonstrators lined the barbed wire fencing at RAF High
Wycombe—the headquarters of the Royal Air Force’s command structure in
Buckinghamshire—bearing banners that read “end British military collaboration
with Israel” and “61,000+ killed, 600 RAF spy flights.” The event appeared
highly choreographed, with activists arriving on buses arranged from High
Wycombe railway station and coordinated gatherings around a large Palestine
flag, which was raised prominently in front of a World War II Hurricane
aircraft outside the main entrance.
According to coverage by the Evening Standard, protestors shouted calls including
“RAF you work for us, Israel is not your boss,”
“RAF shame, shame—killing children in your name,”
and
“RAF blood on your hands.”
Pots were banged, drums played, and the mantra
“we are the red line, UK for Palestine”
rang out as the PSC strove to amplify demands for a British arms
embargo on Israel.
Organiser and Activists: Naming Names, Making Accusations
Adnan Hmidan, Chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain,
did not mince his words: As reported by Sam Hall of The Independent, he told
protesters,
“The RAF is not just a bystander, it is a partner in collective punishment. It is a partner in ethnic cleansing and, most importantly, it is a partner in the genocide against the people in Gaza. Every war plane that reaches Israel with British parts or British support makes this country complicit in the killing of children.”
Activist Andrew Feinstein further raised the stakes during his address, as cited by The Evening Standard:
“For the last 22 months, there have been more RAF spy planes flying over Gaza than there have been Israeli Air Force spy planes. That information then gets relayed to the IDF to inform what they call their targeting decisions, but we know that their targeting is totally indiscriminate. So, the people who sit in these buildings are the ones guiding the IDF around Gaza. That is active participation in a genocide. The people sitting in these buildings should sit for the rest of their lives in The Hague in prison for their participation in genocide”.
Legacy of British Air Base Protests
Drawing on the legacy of historic protests at sites like
Greenham Common, the PSC announced in its official statement—widely quoted
across British media—that,
“On 16th August, as part of our summer of action for Gaza, we will be surrounding RAF High Wycombe, drawing on the legacy of protest at air bases like Greenham Common, and showing the strength of the public demand for an arms embargo”.
The focus on RAF High Wycombe is particularly symbolic given
its role as the virtual command centre for much of the UK’s modern aerial and
military strategy—being both headquarters of the RAF’s Air Command structure
and the site for the European Air Group, as well as UK Space Command.
Transport, Numbers and Coordination
According to pre-event briefings and reporting by Stop the
War Coalition and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), protesters came from
across Britain, arriving by train and by coaches from Birmingham, London,
Bristol, and other cities. Organisers implemented logistical planning including
shuttle buses from High Wycombe station and assigned marshals in
high-visibility jackets to coordinate the large red banners and flag displays.
Police Response and Broader Policing Context
Thames Valley Police released a statement in advance of the
gathering, quoted by both The Evening Standard and The Independent:
“We are aware of a protest being planned to take place in High Wycombe today. We will work with the organisers, partners and the public to facilitate peaceful protest, balancing the rights of all and to keep our communities safe”.
The protest passed without major incident, and there were no
immediate reports of significant arrests at the High Wycombe location.
However, the policing context was not without controversy.
As Sam Hall and other journalists have documented, last weekend saw
approximately 15,000 participants in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central
London, where Metropolitan Police arrested 522 individuals for what was
described as “an illegal show of support for Palestine Action,” a recently
proscribed organisation. The Met reported that over 700 people have been
arrested since Palestine Action was banned in July, with ongoing prosecutions
under the Terrorism Act 2000. This includes the first three charges in England
and Wales for supporting the proscribed group.
Legal and Political Backdrop
The United Kingdom government’s stance on Palestine Action,
and by extension, protests connected with the movement, has become stricter
since the group was made a criminal offence to support or be a member of as of
early July. The context adds significance to pro-Palestine protests targeting
military sites, as activists frame their campaigns in opposition not only to
current policy on arms sales to Israel but also Britain’s broader military
collaboration and intelligence sharing.
Media Coverage
Coverage of the protest has been comprehensive, with local,
national, and activist media carrying the principal allegations, slogans, and
statements of organisers. Sam Hall of The Independent and reporting from The
Evening Standard have quoted demonstrators and movement figures extensively.
Stop the War and PSC platforms have disseminated logistical and strategic
details, while police responses have been articulated in statements attributed
directly to force spokespeople.
Wider Context: National and International Echoes
The demonstration at RAF High Wycombe is one of a series of coordinated actions across Britain this summer, aiming to publicise Palestinian suffering, the death toll in Gaza, and the UK’s alleged complicity. Recent London events drew tens of thousands, with police and government responses indicating the increasingly high-profile and contentious nature of the British debate over military and diplomatic ties to Israel.
Saturday’s protest at RAF High Wycombe marked a prominent and highly
coordinated effort by pro-Palestine campaigners in the United Kingdom to push
for an immediate arms embargo on Israel, underscored by dramatic chants,
pointed accusations from movement leaders, and robust logistical support. As
police and government authorities respond with their own measures, the debate
over UK military cooperation with Israel shows no sign of abating.