Elbit Systems

Palestine activist scales Big Ben over imprisonment of protesters

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A man holds a Palestinian flag after he climbed up Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben at the Palace of Westminster in London, March 8, 2025

A PALESTINE protester scaled the tower containing Big Ben and remained atop the historic landmark for 16 hours at the weekend before he was brought down by authorities.

The solo demonstrator climbed Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower barefoot on Saturday morning and then unfurled a Palestine flag.

He was eventually brought to the ground in a cherry-picker at around 1am yesterday.

In videos shared on social media the day before, the man was seen climbing over a fence surrounding the Houses of Parliament without any security guards intervening.

Crowds of supporters gathered nearby behind police cordons, giving shouts of “free Palestine.”

The protester shared clips from the action on social media, stating in one video: “While they’ve got our political prisoners locked up, I’m staying up here,” as he spoke to negotiators who had ascended on an aerial platform.

“I will come down on my own terms.”

He chanted in another: “Stop the weaponisation of terrorism legislation against Palestine Action activists. Free the Filton 18.”

The 18 activists were arrested after protesting against Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.

They are accused of having a “terrorism connection” and are currently jailed on remand.
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British charities referred to UN for ‘aiding crimes against Palestinians’

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https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/british-charities-referred-un-over-allegedly-aiding-crimes-against-palestinians

UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights Situation in the Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese speaks at a press conference at a session of the UN Human Rights Council, Geneva, 27 March 2024 (AFP)

The ICJP referred case studies of four charities, including Trinity College Cambridge and Jewish National Fund UK, to the UN

A number of British charities have been referred to the United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, over allegedly “aiding and abetting international crimes against Palestinians”.

These include both the University of Cambridge’s Trinity College and Jewish National Fund UK, a charity which has former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as honorary patrons.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), a UK-based rights group, announced on Monday that it had answered Albanese’s call for evidence ahead of a report to the UN Human Rights Council on “how the private sector has contributed to establishing and maintain Israel’s presence” in the occupied territories.

The ICJP said its submission explains the case studies of four charities, including Trinity College Cambridge and the UK arm of the Jewish National Fund.

Middle East Eye revealed in February that the prestigious Cambridge college, which is one of Britain’s wealthiest landowners, had $78,089 invested in Israel’s largest arms company, Elbit Systems, which produces 85 percent of the drones and land-based equipment used by the Israeli army.

MEE also reported that the college had millions of dollars invested in other companies arming, supporting and profiting from Israel’s war on Gaza.

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Campaigners welcome the ‘beginning of the end’ of Elbit Systems’ presence in Britain

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The body of a child, a victim of an overnight Israeli air strike, lies in a body bag at the morgue of a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, November 24, 2024

THE British operations of Israel’s biggest arms manufacturer face “the beginning of the end” after losing a contract with the Ministry of Defence worth more than £2.1 billion, Palestine Action has said.

Israeli-owned Elbit Systems has five factories in Britain that supply military drones, pilotless aircraft and other weaponry to Israel and other countries.

For three years, the factories have been targeted for occupation and damage by Palestine Action, and for protests by other Palestine supporters.

One Elbit factory at Oldham in Greater Manchester shut down permanently after more than a year of occupations and protests.

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Elbit and partner firm Thales also produce Watchkeeper drones for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Palestine Action has reported that the MoD has cancelled its Watchkeeper drone contract.

A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “Elbit losing its biggest contract signifies the beginning of the end for the Israeli weapons maker’s presence in this country.

“Direct action undertaken by hundreds of activists has consistently disrupted the operations of Elbit Systems, leading to significant delays in production, as well as damage to weaponry.

“There’s no doubt that direct action works, and it’s more necessary than ever to deploy effective tactics against the Israeli war machine.”

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Wave of arrests for Palestine solidarity actions sparks ‘state repression’ fears

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Palestine Action activists occupying the site of Elbit Ferranti in Oldham, Greater Manchester in 2021

COUNTER-TERRORISM police have arrested 10 more Palestine Action activists in connection to a protest at a “research hub” belonging to Israel’s largest weapons firm Elbit Systems.

Another 10 had already been detained when the action took place on August 6.

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Despite being arrested under the Terrorism Act, which allows police to detain suspects up to 14 days without charge, the activists were all charged with non-terror offences, such as criminal damage and aggravated burglary.

Police confirmed that 10 more were arrested under the Terrorism Act on Tuesday in connection with the incident.

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A spokesperson for the group accused the British state of “acting to protect the interests of a foreign genocidal regime, over the rights and freedoms of its own citizens.”

They added that the real terrorists were “those assisting and arming Israel’s genocide.”

It comes a month after counterterrorism police raided the home of Asa Winstanley, a journalist covering the occupation of Palestine.

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Cage International head of campaigns Naila Ahmed said: “The British government continues to build an infrastructure of authoritarian laws.

“This is beyond a question of complicity; the UK police are now acting as an extension of a genocidal entity, abusing and exploiting any and every power at their disposal to intimidate and crush resistance to the mass killing of humans in Gaza.”

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Activists blockade two Israeli weapons sites in Bristol

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Protesters use a van to block the gates to Elbit at Filton near Bristol Photo: Neil Terry Photography

ACTIVISTS blockaded two Israeli weapons sites in Bristol as they vowed to redouble their efforts to shut down Elbit Systems today.

Palestine Action used lock-on devices inside vans to block the gates at the entrances of both sites, preventing anyone from coming in or out.

One of the sites, a facility at Filton, is the brand new £35 million research and development hub of Israel’s biggest weapons firm.

The other site is Elbit’s headquarters at Aztec West 600, which the activists said is used by Elbit to oversee their logistical, financial, and operational affairs throughout the country.

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