On Wednesday 31 July, Palestine Action celebrated its birthday by forcing Elbit’s UAV Engines factory in Shenstone to close down. Not to be discouraged by cops arresting those actionists, another group from Palestine Action arrived at the site on Thursday 1 August to shut the factory down for a second day in a row. This time, a caravan was part of the blockade.
Approximately 100 protestors also rallied outside the factory on Tuesday, making today the third day of opposition to the Israeli weapons maker.
Palestine Action: three days of disruption to Elbit
Six Palestine Action activists used three vehicles, a car, a van, and a caravan (yes, a CARAVAN), to blockade both gates into UAV Engines Ltd:
From the top of the vehicles, activists chanted “Shut Elbit Down” whilst throwing bottles of red paint towards the building, drenching the premises in blood red paint:
BREAKING: Palestine Action park in front of both entrances into Elbit’s arms factory in Staffordshire, to shut down the Israeli weapons maker for the second day in a row! pic.twitter.com/PSv8Y0YYKu
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) August 1, 2024
One activist has unfurled a banner which reads “Jews say Free Palestine”:
Meanwhile, the five Palestine Action actionists who shut the factory down on 31 July were released:
Five released last night after they shut down the Israeli-owned Elbit weapons factory in Staffordshire! pic.twitter.com/J6P08TqtsC
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) August 1, 2024
‘We will shut it permanently down’
UAV Engines Ltd is owned by Israel’s biggest weapons producer, Elbit Systems – who manufacture 85% of Israel’s military drone fleet. The drone engine manufacturer has applied for two separate licenses to export weaponry to Israel which has killed or injured over 130,000 Palestinians in the past 10 months.
Despite two rulings from the International Court of Justice which say Israel is committing a plausible genocide and confirm Gaza is illegally occupied, the UK government has delayed making a decision on stopping arms sales to Israel.
Palestine Action says that:
By the UK government selling arms to Israel, purchasing weapons which are “battle-tested” on Palestinians and hosting Elbit’s arms factories, they are knowingly facilitating the Gaza genocide. It’s now a legal and moral obligation for ordinary people to take direct action and shut Elbit down.
Today’s action has caused sustained disruption to the UAV Engines Ltd factory, a crucial part of Palestine Action’s strategy to force Elbit’s weapons factory to permanently close down.
Featured image and additional videos via Martin Pope
