To wonder why so many pensioners are supporting Palestine Action, even willing to risk prison for it ?

[PrincessSophieFrederike]

Palestine Action showed their true colours a long time ago. I strongly oppose a lot of Netanyahu's actions- I don't object to a protest for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That wasn't Palestine Action's agenda, though.

I would've thought people 60+ would have, on average, accumulated more wisdom. Young people have often been swept up into radical movements with dangerous agendas (look at 60s protestors who thought Castro & co.were nice etc). It's no excuse..but is a BIT easier to see why young people (student age) might fall for this kind of stuff. Also people now seem to have less media literacy, esp SM.

But why are 60+ year olds getting caught up in it?? Willing to go to prison? What is going on? This hasn't happened before with stuff like BLM or Extinction Rebellion, so what us going on now?

No I think it is you who has "confusion" with points.

Saying that "Hamas was voted in" infers that the Palestinians wanted them in charge. It was a flawed voting system that caused the problems.

Neither Hamas nor Fatah (the moderates) wanted a power-sharing deal but Hamas used violence to take control.

😆

Bizarre set of beliefs seem to have prompted this thread.

There were plenty of older people taking part in Extinction Rebellion protests (eg "Extincttion Rebellion pensioners" & "XR grandparents"), and associated actions like the ones done by Just Stop Oil... did you just miss seeing any of the many articles about this phenonomen? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2019/oct/15/how-older-people-became-the-heroes-of-extinction-rebellion

People involved in Palestine Action, and those who don't think PA should have been labelled a 'terrorist' group just because they were taking effective direct action, do not routinely 'support Hamas'. PA was trying to prevent arms companies based in the UK from supplying the Israeli state with weapons systems to be used in carrying out what is widely agreed to be a genocide of the Palestinian people.

When another group (of women, many of them older) did something very similar 30 years ago, to prevent British weapons being used by the Inonesian state vs the people of East Timor, they were actually found not guilty in a court of law, as it was obvious that by taking this action, they were preventing a bigger crime from being committed.

We live in an increasingly repressive environment nowadays, with social and environmental justice campaigners being smeared as 'domestic extremists' and 'terrorists' by the UK Government, which has chosen to prioritise the profits of British arms companies over ethics, human rights and free speech. Have a read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seeds_of_Hope

PA was trying to prevent arms companies based in the UK from supplying the Israeli state with weapons systems to be used in carrying out what is widely agreed to be a genocide of the Palestinian people.

They damaged military planes that they thought were being used to refuel Israeli bombers but they weren't.

They attacked a Jewish business with no connections to Elbit

They put a police officer in hospital

Their co-founder is due to appear in court for expressing support for Hamas

One of their prominent members has just been arrested for supporting Hamas, and she has also dabbled in Holocaust denial.

They had planned future attacks on UK RAF bases, and pose a threat to our national security at a time of heightened tensions with Russia.

They truly are the heroes of this piece.

"PA was trying to prevent arms companies based in the UK from supplying the Israeli state with weapons systems to be used in carrying out what is widely agreed to be a genocide of the Palestinian people."

Firstly - the conflict has not been classed as a "Genocide".

Secondly - direct exports of F-35 components are included in the government’s arms partial suspension, but concerns remain that parts from the UK will later be sold to Israel despite allegations that the aircraft are being used to violate human rights in Gaza. As the UK is a major supplier of components and subsystems to the US arms industry, and the US is Israel’s largest arms supplier, many arms exports from the UK to Israel go into US-made weapons that are ultimately sold to Israel. The UK has no control over this.

Mr Lammy said: “The global F-35 supply chain is vital for the security of the UK, our allies and Nato.”

This is a very good article in The Guardian on how different Governments are dealing with Pro Palestinian demonstrations
How the strength of people around the world are showing support
Often in the face of clamps downs on free speech

Because they know

They know what?

What about the hordes of Palestinians who cheered October 7 and Nova, or applauded when Shani Louk's murdered body was driven past? Clearly a lot of Palestinians DO support Hamas.

Is it most? I agree that's harder to answer. Esp as so many are small children who can't vote..

At least the war seems to be over now...

Thank you. They are NOT the answer to anyone's problems : Israeli, Palestinian, or anybody else. Disgusting organisation.

Yes, the Guardian’s a really impartial player in this game.

Surely this is a huge red flag whatever views anyone may have about PA? What does this mean for our justice system?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-
news/2025/nov/25/removal-judge-palestine-action-ban-legal-challenge-justice-chamberlain