Pro-Palestinian Protesters Blockentrances of Military Factory in Britain

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the entrances of the BAE Systems factory in southeast England on Friday, targeting the largest military supplier in Britain to call for an end to arms sales to Israel. Around 50 individuals held a banner reading "Stop Arming Israel" and waved Palestinian flags at one of the entrances of the factory in Rochester, Kent, where BAE Systems tests and assembles electronic equipment used in military aircraft and surveillance systems. Dozens of protesters gathered at other entrances as well. The company stated that it does not directly export any equipment to Israel, but it is a major supplier of parts used in the manufacturing of American-made F-35 fighter jets that Israel uses. A company spokesperson said, "The situation in Israel and Gaza is horrific for us and the devastating impact it has on civilians in the region, and we hope it is resolved as soon as possible." He added, "We respect everyone's right to peaceful protest. We operate under some of the strictest regulatory standards and fully comply with all applicable export controls related to defense equipment, which are subject to continuous assessment." The protest at the British facility follows actions taken by unions in Belgium and Spain that refused to handle shipments of military materials due to the war in Gaza.