Palestine Action has just targeted two weapons manufacturers which supply Israel arms firm Elbit Systems – one in Manchester, and another in Sunbury.
Palestine Action: conducting its own early morning raids
Just before 5am on Monday 22 July, one group of Palestine Action activists broke inside Manchester-based arms components manufacturer Dean Group International and dismantled machinery and equipment:
Police have cordoned off the premises and remain at the scene as activists continue to occupy Dean Group International, Brinell Dr, Irlam, Manchester M44 5BL.
Then, in Sunbury-on-Thames another group jumped security fences, shattered windows and hardware belonging to an arms supplier, Ametek Airtechnology:
Both companies supply parts to Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems.
Israel weapons suppliers
Dean Group International uses a specialised technique called ‘investment casting’ to manufacture components for arms companies, including Elbit’s Kent-based subsidiary, Instro Precision. According to the manufacturer, “so much from a military standpoint requires investment casting, including weapons, missiles, radar, and communications equipment”. The supply of components to Instro Precision, who’ve held over 80 licenses to export arms to Israel since 2016, was verified when other activists broke inside the Elbit arms factory during an action last month.
Ametek Airtechnology specialises in designing, developing and manufacturing custom-made thermal and motion control solutions for weapons including missiles, military vehicles and fighter jets. Amongst weapons their products are used for is Israel’s F-35 fighter jets, which are frequently used during Israel’s ongoing Gaza genocide. Ametek’s subsidiary United Electronic Industries lists Elbit Systems as a “valued customer” – a connection which was also confirmed through sightings of deliveries to Elbit’s Shenstone-based subsidiary, UAV Engines Ltd.
The Israeli military has killed over 38,295 Palestinians since 7 October, most of whom are women and children. Schools, hospitals, refugee camps, residential buildings and general infrastructure is frequently bombed during the ongoing Gaza genocide. In response to the growing demand for munitions by the Israeli military for such attacks on Gaza, Elbit has “ramped up production” of its weaponry.
Elbit Systems manufactures 85% of Israel’s military drone fleet and land-based equipment, as well as missiles, ammunition and digital warfare. The Israeli arms company uses Gaza, which was recently confirmed by the International Court of Justice to be illegally occupied territory, as a laboratory to develop their “battle-tested” weapons.
Shut it down
A Palestine Action spokesperson said:
Without suppliers such as Dean Group International and Ametek, Elbit couldn’t make weaponry which is used to commit genocide. Whilst our government continues to facilitate Elbit’s crimes, Palestine Action will continue to use direct action to end the complicity and shut Elbit down. Every link in Israel’s military supply chain will be uncovered and dismantled.
Featured image and videos via Palestine Action
