UK protest shuts ‘backbone’ of Israeli drone factory

A factory that manufactures parts for Israeli drone engines which is described as “the backbone” of Israel’s drone fleet, was forced to close down two days in a row following protests by human rights groups.

Campaigners, who say they intended to close the factory for as long as possible, protested on the 3rd anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza where over 2,000 civilians, including over 500 children, were killed.

Activists from around the UK shut down the Israeli drone factory UAV Engines (Elbit Systems) near Lichfield yesterday. Earlier today, 12 activists locked themselves on to the gates of the factory and forced it shut for a second time.

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Activist told MEMO: “At 5am this morning, the group locked themselves on to and shut the main gates to a factory owned by Israeli arms maker Elbit.”

Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), a UK-based organisation working to end the international arms trade, believes Elbit is Israel’s largest arms producer (SIPRI). Its portfolio includes systems for military aircraft and helicopters, drones, armed remote control boats, land vehicles and for command and control.

Elbit, which has four subsidiaries in the UK, is believed to be “the backbone” of Israel’s drone fleet. According to CAAT the company was extensively used by the Israeli military in the 2014 attack on Gaza

Campaigners told MEMO that they are now intending to close the factory for as long as possible. “Palestinian solidarity activists alongside activists against drone warfare and the arms trade in general challenged the insanity of war and those who profit from it,” Fouad from Gaza and who lives Birmingham told MEMO.

In Gaza we live with the noise of drones every day and the fear that they may fire a missile at any time so I am glad the factory has been shut down.

On the 3rd anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza where over 2,000 civilians, including over 500 children, were killed, activists from around the UK shut down the Israeli death drone factory UAV Engines (Elbit Systems) near Lichfield.

On the 3rd anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza where over 2,000 civilians, including over 500 children, were killed, activists from around the UK shut down the Israeli death drone factory UAV Engines (Elbit Systems) near Lichfield.

On the 3rd anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza where over 2,000 civilians, including over 500 children, were killed, activists from around the UK shut down the Israeli death drone factory UAV Engines (Elbit Systems) near Lichfield.

On the 3rd anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza where over 2,000 civilians, including over 500 children, were killed, activists from around the UK shut down the Israeli death drone factory UAV Engines (Elbit Systems) near Lichfield.

On the 3rd anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza where over 2,000 civilians, including over 500 children, were killed, activists from around the UK shut down the Israeli death drone factory UAV Engines (Elbit Systems) near Lichfield.

On the 3rd anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza where over 2,000 civilians, including over 500 children, were killed, activists from around the UK shut down the Israeli death drone factory UAV Engines (Elbit Systems) near Lichfield.

On the 3rd anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza where over 2,000 civilians, including over 500 children, were killed, activists from around the UK shut down the Israeli death drone factory UAV Engines (Elbit Systems) near Lichfield.