Pro-Palestinian protesters block entrances to UK’s BAE defence plant

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanded an end to Britain’s largest military supplier, BAE Systems (BAES.L), by barring the doors of the company’s southeast England plant on Friday.

About fifty protesters gathered in front of one door at the BAE complex in Rochester, Kent, where electronic equipment used in surveillance systems and military aircraft is tested and assembled, holding signs that read “Stop Arming Israel” and waving Palestinian flags.

At other exits, tens more demonstrators gathered.

Although the business is a tier-one supplier for the F-35 fighter planes manufactured in the United States that Israel operates, BAE said that it does not directly transfer any equipment to Israel.

“We hope it can be resolved as soon as possible,” a BAE representative said, referring to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas. “We’re horrified by the situation in Israel and Gaza and the devastating impact it’s having on civilians in the region.”

“Everyone’s right to a peaceful demonstration is respected by us. We follow all applicable defense export restrictions to the letter and operate under the strictest regulations, which are continuously evaluated.”

Following actions done by unions in Belgium and Spain that refused to handle shipments of military supplies over the Gaza War, protests have taken place at the British site.

After what it claims was a 1,400-person attack on Israel on October 7, Hamas launched a besiege and invasion of Gaza with the intention of destroying the organization that rules that region. Over 10,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s bombardment on Gaza, according to health experts there.

The union of port stevedores in Barcelona earlier this week refused to load or unload any military hardware, while in late October, unions representing Belgian transport workers demanded that their members refrain from handling military hardware that was being shipped to Israel.

In recent weeks, there have been frequent protests in European towns to demonstrate sympathy for the Palestinians living in Gaza.

Due to controversies surrounding the planned large-scale pro-Palestinian march in London on Saturday, which falls on the anniversary of the end of World War One, there are worries that counter-protesters may also target the nation’s capital.