More than 3,000 individuals, including legal professionals, academics and former magistrates, have signed a formal complaint questioning the conduct of a judge presiding over proceedings involving activists linked to Palestine Action. The complaint focuses on concerns about perceived bias in the handling of the case.

The proceedings relate to a 2024 incident in which activists entered a facility associated with Elbit Systems and damaged equipment in protest at its role in supplying military systems used during Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. Supporters of the activists argue the action was intended to disrupt industrial support for ongoing violence affecting Palestinian civilians.

At the centre of the dispute is a judicial decision suggesting the conduct could be considered relevant to “terror-related” sentencing considerations, despite no convictions on such charges. Critics of the ruling warn it risks broadening legal interpretation in a way that could impact future direct-action cases. A separate hearing on whether the judge should be removed from the case is expected ahead of sentencing scheduled for 12 June.