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Manchester, Britain โ 31st March 2025ย 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. They’ve already smashed windows, solar panels and covered the premises in blood-red paint, symbolising the company’s 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 Israel’s war machine. Dean Group remains a critical partner to the production of sniper sights at Elbit Systems’ Instro Precision facility in Kent.
Elbit Systems, Israel’s larges weapons firm, relies upon Dean Group for its “investment casted” metals components, including for the Kent ‘Instro Precision’ 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] – 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 Elbit’s array of military technologies [4].
As Dean Group say on their website, “So much from a military standpoint requires investment casting, including weapons, missiles, radar, and communications equipment” [5].
Palestine Action spokesperson said:
“Today, 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 “tested” on Palestinians, we will continue to take action to disrupt their operations. The Dean Group is a key link in Israel’s military supply chain, and actions will continue until their collaboration ceases.“
This occupation forms part of a growing wave of direct action targeting companies and institutions that enable Israel’s military-industrial complex. Palestine Action’s 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/