UK Gaza solidarity protests target subsidiary of Israeli weapons company Elbit

Dozens of activists have blockaded an arms factory belonging to a subsidiary of Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems in the UK, as Israel continues its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

More than 150 people were blocking two entrances to an Instro Precision Ltd location in Sandwich, a town in Kent in southeast England, news outlet Novara Media reported.

The activists and trade unionists have banners saying "Workers for a free Palestine" and "UK: Stop arming Israel".

"Pickets such as today's are a vital form of solidarity with the Palestinian people that can restrain Israel's military capacity. The time to act is now," a member of Palestinian trade union coalition Workers in Palestine said.

The protest follows an open letter published by Workers in Palestine urging trade unions internationally to "end all forms of complicity with Israel's crimes – most urgently halting the arms trade with Israel", in addition to all funding and military research.

"Seeing fellow doctors and their patients being killed is unbearable, and following the announcement that the healthcare system in Gaza has collapsed, many of us felt we had no choice but to take this action," said Abbie, a junior doctor in Britain's NHS public health system.

Kent Police said that officers were at the scene of a protest near Sandwich, giving an address that matched one belonging to Instro.

The New Arab has contacted Elbit Systems for comment about the demonstration but did not receive a response before publication.