A Just Stop Oil supporter, who had been threatened with prison for attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, was yesterday given a small fine after the Probation Service backed down. [1]
Hannah Schafer, 62, a sailing instructor from Cardigan appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with breaches of her sentencing order after joining the Global Sumud Flotilla in August 2025. She had previously been given a 12 month custodial sentence suspended for 2 years for her part in an action with Just Stop Oil at Heathrow Airport in July 2024. [2]
In December, the Probation Service alleged that Hannah had broken the terms of her sentencing order after joining the humanitarian mission and being arrested in international waters in October last year. They threatened her with being made to serve the full 12 month custodial sentence. However, in a last-minute reversal ahead of the hearing, the Probation Service said it would no longer pursue breach proceedings to seek activation of the sentence, and would instead limit the matter to a missed probation appointment, and recommend a fine rather than imprisonment.
At Thursday’s hearing, the matter was reduced to a single breach relating to a failure to attend a probation appointment on 27 November 2025, which Hannah accepted.
The magistrate said it would be “unjust to activate the sentence”, describing the breach as “incredibly minor” and ordered Hannah to pay a fine of £48 and £60 in prosecution costs – a total of £108.
Hannah was first officer on a 48-foot yacht that joined the flotilla sailing from various ports on the Mediterranean which attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza earlier this year. She was one of more than 500 sailors from all over the world including Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla. [3]
The flotilla endured rough weather, sabotage and being firebombed by drones before being intercepted by Israeli warships in international waters and forced to sail to Israel at gunpoint. Hannah was held in Israeli custody for five days before being deported to Jordan. [4]
Hannah said:
“I am proud to have been able to take non-violent and constructive action on the Global Sumud Flotilla, for which I have received praise from people from a very wide spectrum of opinion. The ordinary people of the world know the difference between right and wrong, it’s a huge shame our leaders apparently don’t. It’s time our justice system stopped blindly following government orders and begins to uphold international law, which clearly states we should all be doing what we can to prevent the genocide Gaza.
“Ordinary people around the world came together last September to try to break the illegal siege on Gaza and help stop the genocide of the Palestinian people. We sail again in the spring. Everyone can help, go to www.globalsumudflotilla.org to find out how.”
In 2024 Just Stop Oil successfully won its original demand of ‘no new oil and gas’ and on March 27th 2025 announced an end to the campaign of action. However, our supporters will continue to tell the truth in court, to speak out for our political prisoners and to help build what comes next.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
April 26th 2025 was the last Just Stop Oil action, but our supporters will continue to tell the truth in the courts, speak out for our political prisoners, and call out the UK’s oppressive anti-protest laws.
Just Stop Oil continues to rely on small donations from the public to make this happen.
[2] 20th March 2025 – Heathrow Airport 10 : 8 found guilty, 1 acquitted after Judge removed all legal defences
https://juststopoil.org/2025/03/20/heathrow-airport-10-8-found-guilty-1-acquitted-after-judge-removed-all-legal-defences/
[3] 1st October 2025 – Israel intercepts last Gaza Sumud flotilla vessel
[4] 14th October 2025 “The Israeli guards weren’t full of joy – we were”: One woman’s journey from New Quay to an Israeli prison https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/the-israeli-guards-werent-full-of-joy-we-were-one-womans-journey-from-new-quay-to-an-israeli-prison-840650