UK police drops charges against protestors at Gal Gadot film set in London

Charges against eight activists who protested at filming locations for an upcoming Gal Gadot film have been dropped, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed to The New Arab.

The Met said the charges were dropped as the evidence did not meet the Crown Prosecution Service's standards.

Those arrested had been intially charged under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992, a little-used Thatcher-era law which bans the obstruction of access to workplaces.

The activists were arrested in April and May this year after protesting at locations in central London used to film The Runner. At the time of the arrests, the Metropolitan Police claimed the film was targeted "solely because an actress involved in the production is Israeli."

Before starring in films such as Wonder Woman, Snow White, and Death on the Nile, Gadot completed two years of military service in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

During her service, Gadot appeared in Maxim's "Women of the Israel Defence Forces" photoshoot, which aimed to "promote Israel, attract young American men, and reshape its public image."

Since leaving the IDF, Gadot has been an outspoken advocate of Israel amid the country's genocide of Palestinians. Earlier this month, she was awarded Israel's Genesis Prize for her "moral clarity and unwavering love for Israel" during the brutal war.

Ani Zahir, one of the activists who said they were arrested at the protests earlier this year, said "Gal Gadot is not just an actress, she is a mouthpiece for the IgF and an active endorser of a Gside [Sic]" in a statement on Instagram.

 

 

 

 

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Neither Amazon MGM Studios nor Gadot's representatives have responded to The New Arab's request for comment.

Below is the full statement from the Metropolitan Police:

“Between April and May, officers arrested eight people following reports of repeated disruption at filming locations in central London. They were charged under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 in October.

“Detectives from the Met’s Public Order Command continued their investigation to gather all available evidence. However, in November, in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, it was concluded that the evidence did not meet the standard threshold set by the CPS for the case to continue.

“The charges against eight individuals were subsequently dropped on Tuesday, 18 November at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.”