TWO Palestine Action activists were arrested after occupying the Aviva building in Bristol today, demanding the company stop insuring an Israeli-owned drone engine factory.

The group said Aviva provides mandatory employers’ liability insurance for UAV Engines in Staffordshire, which is owned by Israel’s biggest weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.

One activist climbed the overhang of the building from 7.30am, while the other spray-painted “Pal Action” and “Elbit out” on the the building’s glass facade.

“By insuring UAV Engines, Aviva is facilitating the design and production of drone engines used to power Israel’s killer drone fleet, including the Hermes 450 drones and IAI's Harop and Harpy attack drones,” said Palestine Action.

“Such drones are used to surveil, massacre and terrorise Palestinians, both in Gaza and in the West Bank.”

Although a ceasefire has taken effect in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have begun Operation Iron Wall in the West Bank, killing nine Palestinians and injuring 70 in the Jenin region in the past 24 hours.

Many of those killings are thought to have been carried out with air strikes and drones. 

 A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “Israel’s biggest weapons firm could not work in Britain in isolation. 

“Aviva is providing the mandatory insurance Elbit needs in order to build Israeli weapons on our doorstep.

“Without insurance, the Israeli arms-maker would not be able to operate in Britain. 

“Palestine Action will continue to take direct action against companies such as Aviva as long as they facilitate the destruction of Palestine and massacres of the indigenous population of the land.”

An Aviva spokeswoman said: “We would not comment on site security matters, but we can confirm that our Bristol site is open.

“Colleague safety is paramount and we are actively communicating with our people to ensure their wellbeing.”