Six pro-Palestine activists have been charged with causing criminal damage after staging a protest at an Israeli-owned arms factory in southeastern England.
The protesters smashed windows and splashed red paint on the walls of the factory, which is owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest private arms firm. Elbit Systems developed the Hermes 900 drone which was used during Israel’s attack on the besieged Gaza Strip in 2014. The Elbit-owned factory in Shenstone is known to produce parts for drones.
Footage from the latest Palestine Action protest at #Elbit weapons factory occupation https://t.co/Tjpja0W4wm #Palestine #ShutElbitDown
— al whit (@soitiz) February 23, 2021
Police arrested the six activists on Tuesday afternoon, holding them for around 48 hours, according to local media reports.
The group appeared in court on Thursday and was charged with causing £50,000 ($69,624) in criminal damage. Police also raided the activists’ homes, Palestine Action said.
A similar protest in September saw activists occupy the factory’s rooftop for three days, costing the firm an estimated £145,000 ($201,912).
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"Europe is increasingly sharing Israel's #racist approach to border #security and adopting its deadly technologies."@RamzyBaroud & @RomanaRubeohttps://t.co/gZGDMQfPnC #Racism #Palestinians #WarIsARacket— Venus Throw (@OneVenusThrow) December 22, 2018
Palestine Action has accused police of adopting a harsher approach towards protesters “acting on behalf of Palestinians”.
“This is the same non-violent direct action as many groups have taken and are still taking and it disgusts me that the British state acts in this way when you act for the Palestinian people,” Richard Barnard, co-founder of Palestine Action, was quoted by Morning Star as saying.
(The New Arab, PC, Social Media)
