THE “Elbit Eight” who repeatedly shut down the Israeli weapons firm were acquitted of a total of 12 charges today, in what campaigners called a landmark case for peace activism.

Charges against the Palestine Action supporters included criminal damage, burglary and encouraging criminal damage.

The trial, which began on November 13, related to a series of actions taken between July 2020 and January 2021 targeting weapons factories in Britain that supply parts to Israel and involved a total of 24 charges.

The defendants argued that the actions taken were necessary to preserve life and if those who owned the buildings were aware of the “heinous crimes” which rely on Elbit products for their commission, they would consent to the interventions.

The jury failed to reach a majority decision on the remaining charges and the Crown Prosecution Service has until January 18 to decide if they will retry on those counts.

Defendants Genevieve Scherer and Jocelyn Cooney were unanimously acquitted on all charges faced and will not return to court.

Huda Ammori, one of the defendants, said: “After pushing back our case for two years, the state have failed again to deter an ever-growing global direct action movement.

“Every day we’ve been on trial, more Palestinians have been massacred using Elbit’s weaponry.

“The duty of the people is clear – to take all direct action possible to Shut Elbit Down wherever you are.”

During the trial, defendant Robin Refualu spoke about the direct action he had been involved with in Palestine to stop home demolitions and Israeli settlements.

He produced a rubber bullet manufactured by IMI Systems, a subsidiary of Elbit, that was shot at him while in Palestine.

The bullet missed him, but another hit 14-year-old Mohammed Tamimi, who was left in a coma for three days.