Pro-Palestine protesters force closure of UK arms factories

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Dec 2023 21:26
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The protesters, who include health workers, teachers, hospitality workers, academics and artists, are calling for an end to arms sales to "Israel" and for the UK government to support a permanent ceasefire.

Protesters force four weapons-making factories to shut down (X, @Workers for a Free Palestine)

Pro-Palestine protesters in the UK have successfully compelled the closure of four arms factories in the UK that manufacture components for Israeli fighter jets, The Guardian reported on Thursday.

These facilities include Eaton Mission Systems in Bournemouth, BAE Systems at Samlesbury Aerodrome in Lancashire, L3Harris factory in Brighton and Hove, and BAE Govan in Glasgow.

The factories contribute to the production of parts for the F-35 stealth combat aircraft, currently employed by "Israel" in its aggression on Gaza.

This is what solidarity looks like 🇵🇸❤️

Over 1000 trade unionists across 4 arms factory sites - including 600+ at this one in Dorset - taking direct action to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel.

Genocide & war crimes: not in our name.

Long live Palestine✊🏼 #StopArmingIsrael pic.twitter.com/sJh9CYlEam
— Workers for a Free Palestine (@Workers4Pal) December 7, 2023

The protesters, who include health workers, teachers, hospitality workers, academics, and artists, are calling for an end to arms sales to "Israel" and for the UK government to support a permanent ceasefire.

The participating trade unions include Unite, UNISON, GMB, the NEU, the BMA, UCU, BECTU, and BFAWU.

BREAKING: Over 1,000 workers have blockaded 4 arms factories across the UK which provide components for arms used by Israel in its bombardment of Gaza.

Actions are being coordinated with workers in France, Denmark and the Netherlands who are also blockading arms factories today. pic.twitter.com/B9GJ5Mqk2Q
— Taj Ali (@Taj_Ali1) December 7, 2023

Protests held across Europe

The blockades have been organized in coordination with workers in France, Denmark, and the Netherlands, who are also blockading arms factories.

These include Exxelia (Paris, France), TERMA Group (Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark; Leiden, The Netherlands), and UAV Engines (Shenstone, UK).

A military component manufactured by Exxelia enabled Israeli forces to precisely guide a missile to strike the roof of the Shuheibar family home on July 17, 2014, killing three children and seriously injuring two further children, according to the Workers in Palestine group.

The group added that gun pods manufactured by TERMA Group enable the occupation to mount excessive amounts of explosives to the otherwise small and agile F-35s, citing a report in the Danish media that 75 children were killed in Gaza in May 2021 and August 2022 by fighter jets carrying parts from TERMA Group.