Cops arrested four Palestine Action activists after they entered, occupied, and dismantled a key supplier of Elbit’s factory – and therefore, Israel’s war machine – on Thursday 27 June. However, the response from the cops was nothing short of militarised – and utterly over the top.
Palestine Action: mashing up the Israeli war machine
Activists from Palestine Action occupied ‘GRiD Defence Systems’, military computer and processor supplier for Israel’s war machine:
After breaking into the company premises on Holtspur Lane, High Wycombe, activists barricaded themselves inside, destroyed military hardware and unfurled banners calling out the little-known military electronics firm:
BREAKING: Actionists occupied Grid Defence Systems, military hardware suppliers for several arms companies including Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems.
From inside, parts for the zionist military supply chain have been destroyed. pic.twitter.com/xl4tOyb4QO
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 27, 2024
GRiD is a key supplier for Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms firm, along with dozens of other companies embedded in the Israeli war machine.
However, cops soon cottoned on – and there were dramatic scenes as they removed and then arrested Palestine Action activists:
“We will take it down brick by brick. We will tear it all apart!”
Four actionists arrested after they destroyed military hardware for Israel’s Elbit Systems
Mobilise to support them at Maidenhead police station, SL6 8LP pic.twitter.com/mhdbLWlQwP
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 27, 2024
Cops militarised and disproportionate response was once again the state protecting corporate colonialist interests:
Riot police respond to actionists destroying weaponry for the Israeli military pic.twitter.com/bF4AvJ7CH8
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 27, 2024
GRiD: complicit in Israel’s genocide
GRiD manufactures a range of military computers, processors, and similar electronic equipment, either for direct battlefield use or to be integrated into other systems. In this month’s raid on Elbit Systems’ ‘Instro Precision’ site in Sandwich, Kent, dozens of boxes of GRiD processors were trashed after being found inside. Their discovery confirmed what activists already knew about GRiD’s supplies to those arming Israel’s genocide.
That GRiD would do business with Instro Precision speaks volumes: Instro manufactures weapons sights, target acquisition, and electro-optics systems for the Israeli military, including the targeting systems for troop and vehicle ground operations in Gaza.
Their electro-optical equipment is an “important tool in the continuation of apartheid practices in Israel”. While GRiD brags that its products can bypass arms export regulations, by nature of using non-military-specific components, Instro has been granted over 50 export licenses for shipment of ‘ML5’ category arms (weapons sights and target acquisition systems) to Israel in just a five-year period.
On top of their dealings with Elbit and Instro, GRiD boasts that its clientele includes Lockheed Martin, lead manufacturers of the F-35 fighter jets terrorising Gaza, Leonardo, producers of Israel’s Apache military helicopters, and Israel-supplying missile manufacturer MBDA.
Shut it down
A spokesperson for Palestine Action said:
GRiD is just one of the companies we know to be supplying Elbit. From intel gleaned from actions, to information passed on by whistleblowers – we know who you are, and any firm doing business which enables genocide should not be surprised when they too are shut down.
Palestine Action will continue until every ounce of British complicity in the occupation of Palestine is undone.
Featured image and additional images via Palestine Action
