UK's Palestine Action blocks Elbit Systems' Bristol HQ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
15 Feb 2024 10:34
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The pro-Palestine direct action group Palestine Action blocks arms manufacturer Elbit Systems' Bristol Headquarters as "Israel" continues its genocide across the Gaza Strip.

Screengrab from video footage showing the Palestine Action activists locked together in front of Elbit Systems HQ in Bristol, England, as the police warns them to disperse on February 15, 2024. (Palestine Action)

Amid the ongoing Israeli occupation's genocide of the Palestinian people of the Gaza Strip, pro-Palestine activists across the UK have intensified their efforts to disrupt the Israeli war machine.

According to a report from British newspaper Morning Star, on Wednesday, activists associated with Palestine Action, a UK-based pro-Palestinian protest network, barricaded the entrance to Elbit Systems, "Israel’s" largest weapons firm. The activists, focused on direct action tactics, blocked the firm's entrance by locking themselves together.

BREAKING: Palestine Action are blockading the only entrance into the Bristol HQ of Israel’s largest weapons firm.

A genocide is underway which our government is assisting, so it’s up to the people to #ShutElbitDown!

Join us at Elbit, Aztec West, Patchway pic.twitter.com/PwL5gJEex4
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) February 14, 2024

Elbit Systems is known for supplying the Israeli occupation forces with drones, munitions, combat vehicles, missiles, and various other types of weaponry. According to the daily, "The majority of their arms are marketed as 'battle-tested,' meaning they have been deployed in bombardments against the Palestinian people."

'Up to people to take direct action'

A spokesperson for Palestine Action emphasized the necessity for direct action to shut down Elbit, stating, "While Israeli weapons companies — which assist in occupying, displacing, and massacring the people in Gaza — operate on our doorstep, it’s up to the people to take direct action to shut Elbit down," adding "Every other method — including marches, petitions, and lobbying — has failed to end British complicity in the occupation."

The spokesperson expressed frustration with conventional methods like marches, petitions, and lobbying, asserting that these have failed to end British complicity in the occupation.

In a symbolic gesture, activists from the group also covered the Manchester offices of Bank of New York Mellon, an American banking and financial services corporation, in red paint. This act aimed to symbolize the complicity of the bank in Palestinian bloodshed given it has invested over $12 million in Elbit systems.

BREAKING: Actionists target the Manchester offices of BNY Mellon.

The bank invest over £10million in Israel’s largest weapons firm, making them accomplices to the genocide.#ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/oUhTZIE1g7
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) February 14, 2024

Elbit Systems UK and Elbit Systems Ltd.

Back in January, and during an early-morning demonstration, dozens of protesters reportedly "shut down" the Bristol HQ as well. This was initiated by campaigners from Palestine Action who have targeted the Elbit headquarters in Little Stoke.

Protesters targeted several UK sites of the company that describes itself as a "defense, technology, and aerospace company working on a range of technologies for both military and civilian applications."

Elbit Systems UK is part of Elbit Systems Ltd, which makes drones and other military equipment, and has contracts with the Israeli occupation.

Companies House UK, listing 'Elbit Systems Ltd' as the person of control of 'Elbit Systems UK'. January 18, 2024.

Companies House UK, listing Elbit Systems Ltd as the person of control of Elbit Systems UK, Jan 18, 2024

"Disrupting Israel's military supply chain through direct action and community mobilization is a crucial and necessary tactic to deploy as our Palestinian siblings are under fire by Elbit's weaponry. We do not stand for genocide enablers on our doorstep, and we've once again made it clear that Elbit is not welcome in Bristol or anywhere on British soil," a Palestine Action spokesperson stated.