Pro-Palestine groups block UK weapons factories that ship to 'Israel'
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Six members of the Palestine Action group have been arrested by police after standing and blocking the entrance to the UAV Engines Ltd which ships weapons to the occupation.
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Protesters in front of Elbit's UAV Engines Ltd in the UK (X/PalestineAction)
The UK witnessed another protest against the shipment of weapons to "Israel" as pro-Palestine demonstrators blocked numerous weapons factories.
In Glasgow, the entrance to the Thales plant was blocked and five activists were arrested.
While in Shenstone, members of the Palestine Action group stood at the entrance to the UAV Engines Ltd. Six activists were arrested by police at the scene.
In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of protesters have marched through London, demanding the Israeli regime stop the genocidal campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip.
BREAKING: Palestine Action blockade all entrances into Elbit's UAV Engines Ltd, forcing the Israeli weapons factory to shut down on #Nakba76 pic.twitter.com/BNWcV2r7Rn
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) May 15, 2024
This comes days after UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated on BBC that while he opposes a major ground offensive in Rafah, the UK will not follow in the US' footsteps in halting some arms sales to "Israel". He noted that the UK contributes only 1% to "Israel's" total weapons supply and emphasized that "Israel" needs to better "protect civilians" and ensure the passage of humanitarian aid.
Meanwhile, Labour's Jonathan Ashworth, among others, expressed opposition to the use of UK-made arms in Rafah.
Last week, US President Joe Biden announced that the US would halt weapon supplies to "Israel" if it proceeded with its planned invasion of Rafah without setting a US-approved plan to allegedly protect Palestinians.
Onward till they all shut down
The Palestine Action group has been quite active in the UK in advocating to stop weapon shipments to "Israel".
Last month, they stormed a US-owned Teledyne factory in West Yorkshire because it exports weapons for the Israeli occupation forces.
Four actionists arrested after they halted the production of parts for Israel’s missiles — They #ShutTeledyneDown pic.twitter.com/oKxn94WJrg
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) April 3, 2024
In its statement, the group said, "Breaching security, the activists have scaled the factory to take the roof, forcing the site closed and rendering it unable to fulfill its shipment of weapons parts to be used in the Gaza genocide."
Then in March, they compelled Elbit Systems, "Israel’s" largest arms company, to permanently close yet another weapons factory in the UK, despite facing arrests, raids, and imprisonment.
The group announced that its efforts have led to the permanent closure of Elbit Systems' Elite KL factory in Tamworth, Staffordshire. That marked the third Elbit Systems site in the UK to be forced to shutter permanently by Palestine Action.
BREAKING: Palestine Action permanently shut Elbit down in Tamworth!
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) March 28, 2024
After sustained direct action, the Israeli weapons maker was forced to sell due to increased security costs which cut their profits by 75%.
The new owners wrote to Palestine Action to confirm the factory is no… pic.twitter.com/MCwlknGtUr
Other activists as well have previously blocked weapons factories in an effort to stop arms shipments to "Israel", which has so far killed over 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
On May 1, protesters blocked the UK Trade Department in London and BAE Systems’ arms factories in Scotland, Wales, and Lancashire.
🚨BREAKING: On May Day, over 1,000 workers are blockading the UK Trade Department in London and BAE Systems’ arms factories in Scotland, Wales and Lancashire 🇵🇸 🚩 #StopArmingIsrael pic.twitter.com/1SA89rZ5ju
— Workers for a Free Palestine (@Workers4Pal) May 1, 2024
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
