Cops have arrested four more people out supporting Palestine Action, trying to stop the UK supply of arms to Israel which is continuing its genocide in Gaza.
Palestine Action: stopping the arms trade in Leicester
Four locals were arrested during a blockade of Leicester’s Elbit drone factory, UAV Tactical Systems, on Monday 22 April.
As Palestine Action shared on social media, people came out to support the group in its action against the factory:
BREAKING: Locals blockade the entrance into Leicester’s Israeli drone factory #ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/sr2JcrFTJu
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) April 22, 2024
The group and local people stopped workers getting into the factory:
BREAKING: Locals get in front of workers cars to stop them from getting inside Leicester’s Israeli drone factory #ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/3P4dPmVtIc
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) April 22, 2024
However, without any substantial basis cops arrested four people for an array of offences including criminal damage, obstruction of the highway and threatening words or behaviour:
Four locals arrested for getting in the way of Leicester’s Israeli drone factory
The factory makes drones which were “battle-tested” on Palestinians. Who is committing crimes? The people or the war criminals? pic.twitter.com/2b81y33gNo
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) April 22, 2024
So, others responded to arrests by blockading the police van with those arrested inside.
Locals blockade a police van with their comrades inside at Leicester’s Israeli drone factory #ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/k5fzC3yeln
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) April 22, 2024
Elbit: shut it down
UAV Tactical Systems is majority owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons firm. The factory’s flagship product is the Watchkeeper drone, modelled on Elbit’s Hermes 450 after it was “battle-tested” on the Palestinian people. The Watchkeeper drone has been used during the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as over the English channel to stop migrants seeking refuge.
In addition, previous export licenses show drone technologies worth over £5million being sent from the factory to Israel. Two of the board members of UAV Tactical Systems are listed as being Israeli nationals, one of which, Vered Haimovich is the Vice President of Elbit’s whole UAV division.
Elbit Systems provide 85% of Israel’s military drone fleet, which is routinely used to surveil and massacre the Palestinian people. One such drone, Elbit’s Hermes 450, was used in a calculated killing of seven aid workers, including three British nationals.
The campaign to shut Elbit down in Leicester has involved direct action from Palestine Action and community mobilisation, causing regular disruption to the Israeli weapons maker. As reported by Companies house, UAV Tactical Systems has been making a loss since the collective campaign begun in 2021.
Featured image and additional images via Palestine Action
