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This morning, at Margate Magistrates Court, the case was dismissed against against 4 Palestine Action activists who had shut down Elbitโs Instro Precision weapons factory in Kent last year.
In March 2024, the activists secured themselves to lock-on devices to prevent all entry and operations at Instroโs Discovery Park, Sandwich facility, which is owned by Israelโs largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. The case was thrown out this morning after Instro failed to provide a statement, in order to avoid scrutiny in court. Another four people who were part of the same action will appear in Margate Crown Court in September.
Following their arrest at the site, the activists were charged with โlocking onโ a new offence under the Public Order Act 2023. They had plead not guilty to the charges and entered court to prove that Elbit, the firm arming the genocide in Gaza, is the guilty party. A similar case was thrown out in Sevenoaks Magistratesโ Court, in March where five activists were acquitted on the second day of trial [1].
In 2024, according to recent FOI disclosures, Instro Precision was granted over a dozen weapons export licenses for the permanent shipment of arms to Israel [2]. Most of the goods exported to Israel by Instro fall under category โML5bโ (target acquisition and related systems). Instroโs products include SpectroXR imaging systems for Israelโs Skylark drones [3], while Elbit has boasted that thousands of the โXACTโ weapons sights systems manufactured by Instro have been delivered to the Israeli military for use by โmarksmen of both Infantry and Special Operation Forcesโ [4]
Earlier this month, ten people were charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder after 7 people caused over ยฃ1,000,000 inside the factory in June, 2024 [5]. The CPS are alleging their is a โterrorism connectionโ in this case, making it the second Palestine Action case where they have levelled these accusations. Their charges followed the Attorney Generalโs Office establishing contact between the Israeli embassy and the CPS and counter-terrorism police, suggesting political and foreign interference [6].
Last week Israel launched a new major offensive with over 300 people killed between Thursday and Saturday [7]. A UN report has now estimated that 1 in 5 people face starvation, with the entire population of Palestine on the brink of famine. [8]
A spokesperson for Palestine Action said: โMany of the weapons that are being used in Palestine are designed and made in the UK. Some of those inside this Kent factory. The case today was dismissed because Instro refused to give any evidence because they donโt want to be scrutinised in the courts, once against proving that it is Elbit and their subsidiaries who are the guilty party as they continue to arm a genocide. This is an encouraging day for everyone working to disrupt the arms supply to Israelโ.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
If you would like any further information on Palestine action, please contact media@palestineaction.org
Palestine Action is a direct-action network of groups and individuals formed with the mandate of taking action against the sites of Elbit Systems and other companies complicit in Israeli apartheid, calling for all such sites to be shut down.
[2] https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/elbit_uk_israel_export_licence_d/response/2868897/attach/html/5/Annex%20C%20IC%20305234%20C3C8.pdf.html
[3] https://instro.com/products/target-acquisition-and-joint-fires/spectro-xr/
[4] elbitsystems.com/pr-new/elbit-systems-xact-weapon-sights-enter-operational-service-with-the-idf/
[5] https://freedomnews.org.uk/2024/06/19/arms-factory-invaders-told-they-caused-1million-in-damage/
[8]https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/13/middleeast/israel-gaza-starvation-report-intl-hnk