PALESTINE Action targeted two military planes at an RAF base in Oxfordshire today, where daily flights depart for another base in Cyprus used for military operations in Gaza.

Two activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and approached the planes on electric scooters.

They used repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers, before causing further damage using crowbars.

Activists then sprayed red paint across the runway, symbolising the bloodshed in Gaza.

They were undetected by security and managed to evade arrest.

Flights depart daily from the base for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, used by Britain to support Israel, the group said in a statement.

More than 500 RAF surveillance flights have flown over the Gaza area from Akrotiri in 15 months, according to analysis by Action on Armed Violence.

The base is also used for British and US military cargo transports to the Israeli military, Palestine Action said.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets.

“Britain isn’t just complicit, it’s an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East.

“By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action has directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people."

The home secretary is looking to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation in the coming weeks, the BBC reported.

Yvette Cooper is understood to be preparing a statement before Parliament on Monday which will make being a member of the group illegal if passed.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X: “The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful.

“Our armed forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day.

“It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.”

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: “We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets.

“We are working closely with the police, who are investigating.”

Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation and said inquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest those responsible.

Shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois told the BBC that the there were “serious questions for the MoD to answer” about how protesters were able to “gain access to what is supposed to be a secure RAF air base.”

On Saturday, thousands are expected to gather in London for the National March for Palestine to demand that the government stop arming Israel.

The march will depart from Russell Square at 12pm.