Eight activists from Palestine Action have blockaded all three access points into Elbit’s Instro Precision weapons factory in Discovery Park this morning (March 26).
By attaching themselves to each other via lock ons, they’ve shut down the site at Sandwich.
Instro Precision is owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons firm. Elbit Systems provide a range of weaponry for the Israeli military, including 85% of their military drone fleet and land-based equipment, as well as electronic warfare, bullets, munitions and gun components
Protestors say the action is to highlight the conflict and deaths in Gaza.
Instro Precision Ltd manufactures a range of military equipment for the purposes of warfare. These include weapons sights for infantry and heavy artillery, such as the XACT th64 sights – which have been sold in quantities of thousands to the Israeli military to be used in Palestine.
A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “Our commitment to the struggle for Palestinian liberations remains stronger than ever, which means it is our obligation to shut down the means of weapons production for the Israeli military.
“We refuse to continue appealing to the political establishment to end our collective complicity in genocide. Instead, we will take direct action to shut down Israel’s weapons trade.”
Instro Precision says it is a supplier and system integrator of support equipment for military and commercial electro-optical sensors in the world. It says it supplies ‘high precision military equipment’ and specialises in support equipment like tripods and manual pan and tilt heads for military observation equipment. Instro produces observation, surveillance and targeting systems.
In 2019 the firm moved to Discovery Park from Broadstairs, where it had been the target of numerous protests. There have also been several protests at its site in Discovery Park.
Kent Police officers are currently at the scene of the protest.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023.
