Pro-Palestine activists block defence big BAE Systems’ shipyard

Activists are staging a blockade at a defence firm’s shipyard in Glasgow in solidarity with Palestinians and are calling for a right away ceasefire.

More than 100 demonstrators blocked entrances to the BAE Systems website in Govan, Glasgow, from round 5am this morning.

They are taking motion in response to a name from Palestinian commerce unionists for employees world wide to disrupt the stream of arms to Israel.

They are calling for a halt to arms exports to Israel, an finish to air strikes on Yemen, and a right away ceasefire in Gaza.

The demonstrators in Glasgow, who should not affiliated to any explicit group, declare that BAE Systems produces parts for the F-35 fight plane utilized by Israel.

BAE Systems stated they comply absolutely with all relevant defence export controls.

More than 100 pro-Palestine demonstrators blocked entrances to the BAE Systems website in Govan, Glasgow, from round 5am this morning

Hawkers promote what little meals  they’ve left on the streets of Gaza City, which has been beneath sustained assault from Israel in retaliation towards Hamas’ assault on October 7

At one of many gates to the positioning the activists, who’re Glasgow residents, stood holding a banner that stated ‘Stop Arming Israel’ and chanted ‘from the river to the ocean, Palestine will probably be free’.

Stephen, a hospitality employee aged 27, who didn’t want to give his surname, stated: ‘We maintain BAE’s administration, not unusual employees, liable for fuelling and taking advantage of the continuing genocide of the Palestinian individuals.’

The UK and US have taken half in joint air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen following Houthi assaults on worldwide transport within the Red Sea.

John, an electrician aged 24, who additionally didn’t want to give his surname, stated: ‘I’m right here at present as a result of clearly we’re being ignored in our requires a ceasefire and since direct motion works in forcing change.’

A BAE Systems spokesperson stated: ‘We’re horrified by the devastating impression the scenario in Israel and Gaza is having on civilians within the area and we hope it may be resolved as quickly as doable.

‘We haven’t any operations or workers in Israel or Gaza and comply absolutely with all relevant defence export controls.

‘We all the time respect everybody’s proper to peaceable protest.’

It follows a earlier protest in south London on February 10, through which lots of of demonstrators marched to BAE Systems in Southwark to rail towards the corporate supplying arms to Israel.

Crowds of protestors gathered in a ‘static protest’ on Whitehall, reverse to Downing Street waving Palestinian flags and holding posters, as a part of a separate pro-Palestine rally on Monday

The mass of individuals concerned in Monday’s rally at Whitehall ultimately cleared the realm and officers have been ‘stood down’ 

One individual was arrested throughout Monday’s protest, nonetheless, on suspicion of inciting racial hatred over a placard

A separate pro-Palestine rally on Monday noticed crowds of protestors gathered on Whitehall, reverse to Downing Street waving Palestinian flags and holding posters

The Metropolitan Police cleared the protest and arrested one campaigner, in addition to closing roads close by because of the excessive variety of protestors. 

The mass of individuals ultimately cleared this night and officers ‘stood down,’ the Met shared in a put up on X/Twitter.

One individual was arrested through the protest, nonetheless, ‘on suspicion of inciting racial hatred over a placard’.

The Foreign Office and Police Scotland have been contacted for remark.