PRO-PALESTINE activists have blockaded the Thales plant in Govan in Glasgow as they call for the UK Government to end arms sales to Israel.
On Wednesday morning, more than 100 activists blocked the entrance to the Govan plant as they called for Thales to drop the contract.
Demonstrators also called for the UK Government to stop sending arms to Israel with more than 37,000 Palestinians now killed in Israel’s bombardment.
The protest is made up of workers from a range of professions and unions and they held up banners which read “stop arming Israel” and “this factory arms genocide”.
Among them was 39-year-old care worker Tom who said: “There is a full-blown famine happening right now in Gaza with children and elderly so starved they can barely walk.
Pro-Palestine activists have again blockaded Thales plant in Glasgow demanding the firm drop their contract with Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems. Over a hundred demonstrators are currently outside the Govan site. Thales produce parts for an Elbit drone used by the… pic.twitter.com/gjaxT1o3vj
— Go Radio (@thisisgoradio) July 3, 2024
“And now we can see that Israel wants to extend its genocidal campaign into Lebanon and the region more widely.
“But still the UK and Scottish governments are doing nothing. Through its relationship with Elbit Systems, a company like Thales operating here in Glasgow is complicit in the genocide of Palestinians.
“Those that think it does not concern the UK, or there is nothing we can do, are wrong.”
A previous demonstration at the site in May was broken up by Police Scotland with the conduct of one officer described as “shocking” when they threatened a National journalist with arrest.
Also at the protest was Katy, 28, who works with a Scottish university. She said: “In Palestine homes, hospitals, mosques, churches, schools and universities have been wilfully destroyed by Israel through relentless aerial bombardments.
“To anyone paying attention the deployment of these weapons is in violation of international law and that the UK itself is breaking international law by licensing the exports of such weaponry.
“Our politicians say they are calling for a ceasefire but at the same time they are providing public funds to the companies that are profiting from the genocide.”
A spokesperson for Thales told The National: "Thales adheres to the UK Government’s industry control system for overseas sales, one of the most rigorous and transparent of its kind in the world.
"In the UK, we have an SME JV with Israeli company Elbit, called U-TacS. This is a UK-registered company that supplies systems to the UK MOD. It does not supply the Israeli military or Israeli MOD.
"As we have said previously, while those outside our site in Glasgow have the right to protest peacefully, we will work with authorities to prosecute anyone who threatens our employees, our property or our important work for the UK armed forces."
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "Around 4.55am on Wednesday, July 3 2024, police were called to a report of a demonstration at a business premises on Linthouse Road, Govan, Glasgow.
"Officers remain at the scene."
