Man Missed Mother's Final Year While Awaiting Trial for Palestine Action Raid

A defendant in the Palestine Action case told a UK court that he missed the last year of his mother's life while held in jail. William Plastow, 35, spent 18 months in prison before being granted bail to be with his mother during her final days. She died of cancer. Plastow is accused of buying equipment used in a 2024 raid on an Israeli-owned arms factory in Filton, England. He admitted to purchasing the items but said he did not know they were for the raid. He was acquitted of violent disorder last week, but still faces criminal damage charges. During the trial, Plastow described his arrest by counter-terrorism police. He said he was held in a small white room with no windows for six days. He called the experience similar to the movie character Hannibal Lecter. He added that his mother was alive when he was arrested, but died before his trial. Plastow told the court he became politically active after seeing images of children killed in Gaza. He said he attended protests and signed petitions, but felt they were ineffective. He later joined Palestine Action, a group that targets companies linked to Israel's military. The trial continues.