Australia: Pro-Palestinian protesters raids Israeli drone factory

Protesters occupy the roof of a Port Melbourne factory belonging to Elbit Systems, which is a subsidiary of an Israeli company that manufactures air and land drones.

The protesters occupied the roof of the Port Melbourne building before being removed about 10am. Picture: Hamish Blair

Three men and three women from the Melbourne Palestine Action Group occupied the roof of Elbit Systems of Australia for five hours before being removed by police about 10am.
Police arrested the six people and expect to charge them on summons with trespass.
The protesters group stormed the factory to protest against the Australian government’s support for Israeli’s war in Gaza. They raided the manufacturing compound which, they said, supplies arms and drones for Israel.
Named the Melbourne Palestine Action Coalition (MPAC), it consists of activists from Whistleblowers Australian Citizens Alliance (WACA) and renegade activists.
The activists blasted Elbit Systems as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of unmanned aerial drones used by the “Israel Defense Forces” (IDF) in their ongoing offensive in Gaza.
Elbit is Israel’s largest military company which sells its drones around the world as ‘field tested’.
Drones are used to kill innocent civilians in Gaza.
With front gate locked up, the activists scaled the wall of the company, then dropped a nine meter banner, reading ‘Elbit Drones Kill Kids In Gaza #BDS‘.

The protesters claimed Elbit Systems was responsible for building drones used in the conflict. Picture: Hamish Blair

By importing and exporting arms to Israel and facilitating the development of Israeli military technology, governments are effectively sending a clear message of approval for Israel’s military aggression, including its war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.

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The WAKA Spokesperson Sam Castro further said, “This is just the beginning of a global campaign to stop the war profiteering of private corporations off the people of Palestine and others around the world.”

The protesters also demonstrated on the street. Picture: Hamish Blair

Castro claimed Elbit Systems was responsible for manufacturing the “majority of drones” used in the Gaza conflict.
“We feel deeply concerned about the military industrial complex and private corporations profiteering off the death of innocent civilians and children in Gaza,” she said.
“This is part of a growing direct action campaign against corporations that are profiteering from making machineries of death.”
Protesters chanted “Elbit Systems you can’t hide, you are supporting genocide” and blockaded the factory in Ingles Street, Port Melbourne.

Pro-Palestine activists occupy the rooftop of Elbit Systems (Photo: WACA)

Pro-Palestine activists occupy the rooftop of Elbit Systems (Photo: @akaWACA)

Israel’s military technology is marketed as “field-tested” and exported across the world. Military trade and joint military-related research relations with Israel embolden Israeli impunity in committing grave violations of international law and facilitate the entrenchment of Israel’s system of occupation, colonization and systematic denial of Palestinian rights.

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