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Pro-Palestine activists target defence firm
Dozens of people stood outside the north Bristol headquarters of an arms company that ships weapons to Israel, with one protester accusing the firm of “contributing to civilian casualties and the destruction of healthcare infrastructure in Gaza”.
As the rain poured at around midday on Saturday, activists held banners and Palestinian flags, chanted together and made emotional speeches calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and accusing Elbit Systems UK of “war crimes”.
Among those speaking on the roadside in Aztec West, Patchway, at the Bristol Palestine Alliance-organised protest were poet Lawrence Hoo, a healthcare worker, a schoolgirl and a drama and English teacher who dialled in from Palestine and thanked the crowd in Bristol for its support.
Elbit is a subsidiary of Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, providing up to 85 per cent of the land-based equipment procured by the Israeli military and about 85 per cent of its drones, according to the Database of Israeli Military and Security Export. Elbit has been contacted by Bristol24/7 for a comment.
Anti-war campaigners joined the rally outside the defence firm’s north Bristol base
“The proliferation of arms contributes to civilian casualties and the destruction of healthcare infrastructure in Gaza and in conflicts around the globe,” said one protester, addressing the crowd.
“Palestinians who have been systematically displaced, kidnapped, tortured, maimed and killed by the occupation are now having to pay their lives as a price to feed their families.
“Shame on Elbit Systems. Shame on the UK government. Shame on Israel, and shame on us for being asleep over these paths for most of our lives. Free Palestine. Ceasefire now.”
A young girl added: “This is my third speech and I just wanted to talk especially about these poor parents who are seeing their children die. Do you know how horrible that would be? Young children are terrified because they don’t want to die. No child should ever be scared to die. These innocent children’s lives are ended before they’ve even properly started.”
Accusing the defence firm of “war crimes”, another protester added: “Elbit’s drones and missiles are used to bomb homes full of families, used to bomb hospitals full of patients, doctors and nurses and people seeking refuge. Elbit’s missiles are used to bomb mosques and churches as well as tents with people whose homes were bombed.”
Elbit has nine sites in the UK, with its Bristol branch as its main operational facility.
A business overview on its website describes the company as “an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world, primarily in the defense and homeland security arenas”.
“We develop and supply a broad portfolio of airborne, land and naval systems and products for defense, homeland security and commercial applications.
“Our systems and products are installed on new platforms, and we also perform comprehensive platform modernization programs. In addition, we provide a range of training and support services.”
A number of protests have taken place at Elbit in Filton, with the latest a peaceful affair
Pro-Palestine activists have targeted Elbit’s Bristol base numerous times, including those from Palestine Action, a direct action network aiming “to end to UK complicity with Israeli apartheid”.
A number of the group’s protesters, dubbed the ‘Elbit seven’, smashed their way into the building in Little Stoke in May 2022 and were recently found guilty of criminal damage and burglary and are due to be sentenced on March 22.
All photos & videos: Betty Woolerton
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