Filton 24 Released after UK High Court Ruling on Palestine Action
Following a British high court’s ruling that the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group is illegal, the brave Palestine Action activists have secured another victory. 23 of the 24 actionists known popularly as the Filton 24, who had been held without trial for 18 months, were granted bail after a court hearing on Wednesday the 18th. Among these 23 former prisoners who are now reunited with their loved ones were several of the Palestine Action hunger strikers, who fasted in protest for multiple months against the proscription of Pal Action and their mistreatment and censorship in prison. One last defendant, Samuel Corner, remains incarcerated despite not being convicted of a single offense at trial.
Also at Wednesday’s court hearing, all charges of aggravated burglary were dropped against the Filton 24. This was the highest charge that they were facing, with a possibility of up to life imprisonment. The prosecution was forced to admit there was no evidence whatsoever for this charge.
US Boat Strike in the Pacific Kills 3 People
On February 20th, the US military bombed a boat in the Pacific that killed 3 people according to the Southern Commands (SOUTHCOM). The boat was alleged to be “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” with no information about which “Designated Terrorist Organization” the boat could have been a part of, nor how that determination was made.
Just days before, on Tuesday February 17th, the US bombed three boats in the Pacific and Caribbean killing a total of 11 people.
The latest attack brings the death toll of Operation Southern Spear up to 148 people since it began targeting alleged “drug boats” in the Caribbean and Pacific last September.
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/20/politics/us-strikes-alleged-drug-boat-in-eastern-pacific
Tricia McLaughlin Resigns from DHS
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin has announced that she is resigning from DHS, with no comment as to why. The only statement she has shared so far is that she’s “enormously grateful” to Trump and Noem, believing that during her tenure, the agency has achieved “historic accomplishments”.
Let’s take a look at some of these “historic accomplishments”:
2025: ICE’s deadliest year in 2 decades
32 people killed by ICE, including Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti (Minneapolis), and Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez (Chicago)
44 people died while in ICE custody, the causes of death include strokes, suicide, and heart attacks
28 people injured by ICE agents, including Marimar Martinez, shot in the hand five times during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/04/ice-2025-deaths-timeline
Behind Enemy Lines 