Palestine campaigners to protest simultaneously at five UK arms factories

Hundreds of Palestine solidarity activists will hold five simultaneous protests at arms factories across the country on Wednesday 25 March. They’ll be demanding that the UK government stops allowing the export of weapons, components and military technology to Israel.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign is coordinating the protests. They’ll take place at arms factories in Bristol, London, Newcastle, Shenstone and Towcester from 11am.

Factories in the UK produce weapons and military technology used by Israel, including components for missiles, armoured drones and fighter jets. Last year, an opinion poll which Palestine Solidarity Campaign commissioned found that 57% of people support a full arms embargo on Israel, compared to just 13% against.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed over 70,000 Palestinians, more than 20,000 of them children, since October 2023. In the West Bank, Israel has ramped up its military assaults, while settler attacks and forced displacement are reaching near record levels. Israel is also currently engaged in an unprecedented bombing and displacement campaign in Lebanon and an illegal war on Iran.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that the risk of Israel committing genocide in Gaza was plausible. Subsequently, reports by a UN Commission of Inquiry, alongside Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have confirmed Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Under the Geneva Convention, states have a legal duty in international law to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. However, the UK government continues to allow arms exports to Israel, despite knowing of their use in war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Lewis Backon, Palestine Solidarity Campaign campaigns officer said:

Britain is an active participant in Israel’s genocide and apartheid against Palestinians by continuing to facilitate the export of weapons and military technology to Israel.

Many tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocide, yet still the government refuses to impose a full arms embargo. Our nationwide protests show that there is a clear demand to end Britain’s complicity in these monumental crimes against humanity.

Details of the five arms factory protests

Bristol:

• Protest at Elbit Systems in Bristol. Elbit Systems is Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, it supplies the Israeli military with armoured drones, bombs and missiles.
• Assemble at 12noon at Elbit Systems, 38 Bolingbroke Way, Filton, Bristol, BS34 6FE.

Hayes, London:

• Protest at two arms factories supplying Israel in Hayes, London. Attewell produces components used in Israel’s F-35 fighter jets. CPI TMD Technologies has held 4 licences to export arms to Israel since 2021.
• Assemble at 11am: Attewell, Unit 7 Millington Road, Hayes, UB3 4AZ.
• Assemble at 1pm: CPI TMD Technologies Ltd, Swallowfield Way, Hayes, UB3 1DQ.

Newcastle:

• Protest at Pearson Engineering, which is owned by Rafael, Israel’s state owned arms manufacturer. Rafael produces missiles and drones for the Israeli military.
• Assemble at 11am at Pearson Engineering (Rafael), Armstrong Works, Scotswood Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6UX.

Shenstone, Staffordshire:

• Protest at UAV Engines in Shenstone, Staffordshire. UAV Engines is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer. It produces armoured drones, missiles and bombs used by the Israeli military.
• Assemble at 11am at UAV Engines Ltd, Lynn Lane, Shenstone WS14 0EA.

Towcester, Northamptonshire:

• Protest at BAE Systems in Towcester, Northamptonshire. BAE Systems produces a variety of weapons used by the Israeli military, including components for its fighter jets used to bomb Gaza.
• Assemble at 11am at BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre, Burcote Rd, Towcester NN12 6TF.

Featured image via the Canary