PALESTINE activists brought an Israeli-owned arms factory in Newcastle to a halt today and sprayed red paint on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

The actions were carried out by Palestine Action as protests took place in Britain and around the world marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba — when 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes and 500 communities destroyed at the founding of the state of Israel in 1948.

The events 75 years ago marked the beginning of Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, which continues today.

In Newcastle, Palestine Action targeted the factory of Pearson Engineering Ltd., where activists occupied the roof.

The campaign group said Pearson, which makes armoured vehicles for the UK military, has been taken over by Israeli state-owned owned Rafael, Israel’s third largest arms manufacturer. 

Palestine Action said Rafael supplies the Israeli military with guided missiles responsible for massacres of Palestinians in 2014 and 2021.

“One such missile struck a school in Rafah in 2014, where 3,200 people were sheltering — killing 12, including eight children,” the group said. 

“Their missiles outfit Elbit drones and are marketed as “extensively battle-proven by the Israeli Air Force.’

“Our occupation makes it clear — no part of the Israeli war machine will avoid being taken apart.

“Its owners are a company which is as old as the Nakba itself and are crucial to its continuation. 

“If Rafael thinks they can expand into England, they have another thing coming.”

Activists also spray painted Nakba75 messages in Leicester, on the 15th day of Palestine Action’s “siege” of the Elbit Leicester factory.

In London, the Foreign Office was sprayed with red paint, symbolising the blood of Palestinians killed by Israel and alleged British complicity in Israel’s actions.

Every successive British government in the past century has facilitated this violence, the group said.

Israeli-owned Elbit has four factories in Britain manufacturing pilotless warplanes for the Israeli military.

Last year an Elbit factory in Oldham in Greater Manchester was shut permanently after repeated occupations by Palestine Action and weekly protests and blockades by Greater Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups, including Oldham Peace and Justice campaign.