Palestine Action
FormationJuly 2020 (2020-07)[1]
TypeActivist group
PurposeEnd to Israeli apartheid
Palestinian liberation
Region
United Kingdom
Websitepalestineaction.org

Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian protest network that uses direct action tactics to shut down and disrupt multinational arms dealers. In particular, the group targets UK-based operations that provide weapons used in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

Protests

Palestine Action was founded on 30 July 2020 when activists broke into and spray-painted the interior of Elbit Systems' UK headquarters in London.[1]

On 19 May 2021, during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, four members of the group dressed in red boiler suits climbed onto the roof of an Elbit Systems-owned drone factory in Meridian Business Park, Leicester.[2][3][4] The occupation lasted six days, and a total of 10 arrests were made for conspiracy to commit criminal damage and aggravated trespass.[2]

The group have staged similar occupations of Elbit Systems sites in Bristol,[5] Oldham in collaboration with Extinction Rebellion[6][7][8] and Tamworth[9] in collaboration with Animal Rebellion.[10]

On 10 June 2021, three protestors from the group "stormed, scaled and occupied" an APPH drone factory in Runcorn.[11] Activists daubed red paint on the exterior, dismantled drone and aircraft machinery and destroyed windows.[11][12] The next day all three were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.[13]

On 14 June, the fourth anniversary of the Grenfell fire, a similar occupation protest was staged at an Arconic factory in Kitts Green, Birmingham by three protestors.[14] Arconic provided the cladding that allowed the rapid transmission of fire across Grenfell tower, and according to Palestine Action provide "materials for Israel's fighter jets".[14] The occupation ended when two activists were arrested from the roof of the building two days later.[15] One activist was remanded in prison and immediately went on hunger strike.[16] The activist said they would end their strike if any one of four conditions were met: release of Palestine Action protestors; the eviction of Elbit from its London headquarters by property firm LaSalle Investment Management; the closure of all Elbit Systems’ British operations or; release by the government of all correspondence and documents relating to its dealings with Elbit and its subsidiaries.[16]

In April 2022, two Palestine Action protestors chained themselves to the gates of a drone factory of UAV Tactical Systems at Meridian Business Park in Braunstone. Other activists gathered nearby with signs stating "Free Palestine". Three protestors were arrested. A spokesperson for the group said that "Direct action will not cease until all Elbit sites are closed."[17]

References

  1. 1 2 "Israeli arms company in London is targeted as activists launch Palestine Action network | The Canary". www.thecanary.co. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Leicester pro-Palestinian drone factory protest ends after six days". BBC News. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. Bedford, Corey (24 May 2021). "Palestine Action breaks into drone factory during protest". LeicestershireLive.
  4. "Elbit protest: Pro-Palestine activists 'shut down' drone factory". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  5. Cork, Tristan (13 April 2021). "Protesters target Israeli arms company in Bristol". BristolLive. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. "Elbit: Activists stage protest at Oldham weapons factory". BBC News. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  7. RiellyMonday, Bethany (1 February 2021). "XR joins forces with Palestinian rights activists to shut down Israeli arms factory in Oldham". Morning Star. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. "Extinction Rebellion and Palestine Action activists protest Israeli-linked firm". jewishnews.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  9. Reporter, JAmedia.uk Breaking Issues (25 May 2021). "Palestine Action Protest of Elite KL Tamworth May 2021". TJAmedia.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  10. Reporter, Justin Knowles-Breaking Issues (16 March 2021). "Palestine Action and Animal Rebellion Shut Tamworth Factory". Tamworth Informed. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  11. 1 2 Turner-LE, Ben; Clay, Oliver (10 June 2021). "Live updates as protesters stage protest on factory roof". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  12. "Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Runcorn factory roof". BBC News. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  13. "Pro-Palestinian activists arrested over Runcorn factory protest". BBC News. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  14. 1 2 Richardson, Andy; Perrin, Ben (15 June 2021). "Police at scene as protesters climb onto city factory roof". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  15. LazenbyWednesday, Peter (16 June 2021). "Police 'violently' arrest Palestine Action protesters at factory in Birmingham". Morning Star. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. 1 2 LazenbyTuesday, Peter (22 June 2021). "Jailed activist who occupied roof of Grenfell cladding firm on hunger strike". Morning Star. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  17. Owen, Dave (14 April 2022). "Protesters chain themselves to gates of city drone factory". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
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