The security failure here impressed upon HM Govt that Something Must Done and declaring the perps a terrorist group was a quick way to look tough. The govt has been short-termist on many issues - it’s not surprising it didn’t consider that this could blow up in its face in the long term. (2/4)
But PA topped their stupidity. Victory was clearly going to be pyrrhic, but they made it even worse for themselves by releasing a video directly rather than a statement or passing it onto another publication. And all this to target Voyagers, which have not contributed to destruction in Gaza. (3/4)
It’s part of a pattern of attacks on unrelated European military infrastructure (e.g. Belgian armoured vehicles being prepped for Ukraine) for ostensibly pro-Palestinian reasons which ultimately only help Russia. These groups are often led by useful (and potentially dangerous) idiots. (4/4)
Addendum: it’s possible similar (but not yet proscribed) groups learn some of the right lessons from this, but I’m not too hopeful.