PALESTINE supporters occupied the roof of an Israeli-owned arms factory yesterday in protest at British involvement in producing weapons used by Israel to kill Palestinians.

The protesters from the Palestine Action group poured red paint down the walls of the UAV Engines factory at Shenstone in Staffordshire to represent the blood shed by Palestinians in Israeli attacks.

The company is part of Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit and makes parts for military drones.

Huda Amori, one of the rooftop protesters, told the Morning Star: “We are here as part of Palestine Action, and in the last month have executed 15 actions against Elbit.

“Weapons made [in Britain] are tested on the Palestinian people. The British government knows what is happening but ignores it.

“We are saying that petitions are not enough: we have to take direct action.”

A Manchester Palestine Action spokesman, who was one of the protesters at the factory gates, told the Morning Star: “We are calling for the factory and all Elbit Systems sites to be shut down in Britain and for an end to British complicity with Israeli apartheid.

“Elbit Systems openly market their weapons as ‘field-tested’ on Palestinian civilians in Gaza. 

“They provide the Israeli military with over 80 per cent of its military drone fleet, which is used to terrorise and massacre Palestinians in Gaza.

“These drones include the military drones Hermes 900 and Hermes 450, employed extensively during the 51-day attack on Gaza in 2014, which killed over 2,200 Palestinians, including 500 children. 

“Elbit has also recently won the contract to monitor and stop migrants and refugees from reaching British shores.

“Palestine Action’s growing popularity has begun to be seen as a threat to both Elbit’s business in the Britain and Israel’s apartheid regime. 

“We call on all those who stand against racism and for humanity to take action — join us and shut Elbit down for good.”