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Manchester, Britain โ 31st March 2025 โ In a bold act of direct action, activists from Palestine Action are occupying the rooftop of the Dean Group facility in Irlam, Manchester, this morning. Theyโve already smashed windows, solar panels and covered the premises in blood-red paint, symbolising the companyโs involvement in spilling Palestinian blood.
The action follows one on the 22nd July 2024 in which activists entered the same Dean Group premises, dismantling machinery [1] to prevent its collaboration with Israelโs war machine. Dean Group remains a critical partner to the production of sniper sights at Elbit Systemsโ Instro Precision facility in Kent.
Elbit Systems, Israelโs larges weapons firm, relies upon Dean Group for its โinvestment castedโ metals components, including for the Kent โInstro Precisionโ factory which is the major exporter of weapons sights and targeting equipment arms to Israel from Britain [2]. Dean Group materials have been identified during previous Palestine Action occupations of Instro Precision [3] โ occupations undertaken, like this one, to break the supply chains of murderous arms from Britain to Israel. The brutalisation of Gaza, and the occupation of Palestine, are made possible through Elbitโs array of military technologies [4].
As Dean Group say on their website, โSo much from a military standpoint requires investment casting, including weapons, missiles, radar, and communications equipmentโ [5].
Palestine Action spokesperson said:
โToday, we are once again taking direct action against the Dean Group. Their role in supplying critical components to the Israeli military means they are directly involved in the oppression and killing of Palestinians. As long as these companies enable the production of weapons which are โtestedโ on Palestinians, we will continue to take action to disrupt their operations. The Dean Group is a key link in Israelโs military supply chain, and actions will continue until their collaboration ceases.โ
This occupation forms part of a growing wave of direct action targeting companies and institutions that enable Israelโs military-industrial complex. Palestine Actionโs campaign aims to create an economic blockade on Israelโs military suppliers, ensuring that their profits are disrupted and their facilities face continuous resistance.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For media inquiries, please contact Palestine Action at media@palestineaction.org
[1] https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/palestine-supporters-raid-companies-supplying-weapons-israel
[2] https://caat.org.uk/data/exports-uk/licence-list?region=Israel&company=Elbit+Systems
[4] https://visualizingpalestine.org/visual/field-tested-elbit-systems-2024-update/
[5] https://www.deangroup-int.co.uk/markets/defence-castings/