Pro-Palestine protest targets Elbit Systems subsidiary in UK

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
30 Nov 2023 16:08

Protesters in the UK gather outside the office of the real estate consulting company “Fisher German” and urge an immediate halt to arms supplies to "Israel".

Protesters attend a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 (AP)

Pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in London on Wednesday on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, urging an immediate halt to arms supplies to "Israel" during its war in the Gaza Strip.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered outside the office of the real estate consulting company Fisher German in London, demanding the closure of the company due to its ties with the Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems.

The protesters condemned Fisher German for leasing properties to Elbit Systems, an Israeli company they accused of "committing genocide" in Gaza. Holding Palestinian flags, they chanted pro-Palestinian slogans like "Free Palestine" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Coordinated protests were held in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, criticizing Fisher German for its association with Elbit Systems, which supplies 85 percent of drones used by the Israeli military against Palestinians.

The British government faced criticism for its perceived complicity in Israeli attacks due to its ties with Elbit Systems. Two major Israeli arms companies, Elbit and Rafael, operate in the UK.

Crowd protest in London to "shut down" the Fisher German property consultancy company for its ties to Israeli-owned weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems have long been criticized for sending weapons to Israel which has brought backlash to the British government for… pic.twitter.com/OgnraGqpvj
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 29, 2023

The United Kingdom, the United States, and European Union member states have been supplying "Israel" with weapons and military support since its genocidal offensive began in the Gaza Strip on October 7. In response, people from various regions have staged numerous protests to express solidarity with the Palestinian population.

A four-day ceasefire commenced on Friday to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza following seven weeks of relentless bombardment. The truce was subsequently prolonged for an additional two days on Monday, and then again on Wednesday for one day.

Despite the truce extension, demonstrators in the UK persist in their protests, calling for a lasting ceasefire. The organizers of the protests affirm their commitment to ongoing demonstrations as long as the violence persists.

Palestine Action UK blocks entrance to Israeli arms factory

Early last week, activists from Palestine Action, a network that directly attacks Israeli weapon factories across the UK, put up a demonstration in support of Palestine by blocking the entrance to UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS), a company owned by Elbit Systems, the largest Israeli arms manufacturer.

They reportedly laid themselves down in front of cars and chained themselves to a van at the entryway.

Palestine Action reported that U-TacS is a joint venture between Elbit Systems and Thales, a French arms company, and added that their demonstration was a "concrete form of solidarity with the Palestinians under attack, while Western governments insist on supporting "Israel" to the hilt despite growing public opposition."

The activists also affirmed that their efforts to confront "British complicity" in the genocide against Gaza will resume unless the UK chooses to break all its ties to the genocide.

In previous acts of solidarity, Palestine Action hit U-TacS after the massacre of over 500 Palestinians, including children, when "Israel" targeted and struck Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.

"This past week, the world has witnessed the brutal attack and occupation of Al Shifa Hospital by Israeli forces," the activists said at the time in a statement to emphasize "Israel's" attacks on hospitals in Gaza.

Arrests were made against four activists at the time of the incident, but they were later released.