Politics1 min read

From Italy to Canada, how the UK’s Palestine Action group went global

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Movement branches operating under the Palestine Action banner have emerged in nations including Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, and France. Activists intentionally stage disruptive incursions, such as spray-painting an Elbit subsidiary in Canada and occupying defense facilities operated by Leonardo in Italy. In France, over 20 protesters paralyzed operations at the Safran Data Systems headquarters in Les Ulis for almost three hours. European branches are further expanding their reach by hosting collaborative training sessions to teach cross-border activists how to effectively blockade weapons production sites.

Key points

  • The protest network has deliberately abandoned conventional lobbying to focus on physical…: The protest network has deliberately abandoned conventional lobbying to focus on physically interrupting defense industry supply chains.
  • Direct-action offshoots and linked demonstrations have successfully established operation…: Direct-action offshoots and linked demonstrations have successfully established operations across multiple European countries and North America.
  • Continental branches are actively coordinating international training workshops to instru…: Continental branches are actively coordinating international training workshops to instruct new activists on facility occupation tactics.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The banned UK group, which targets Israel’s war machine, has inspired activists in Europe and beyond.

London, United Kingdom – In November 2023, protesters spray painted the Rome headquarters of Leonardo, an Italian weapons manufacturer with ongoing contracts with Israel.

The group was inspired by a Palestine Action protest against Leonardo’s Edinburgh factory that same month, which resulted in the factory being shut down.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Palestine Action supporters arrested outside US embassy in London

- list 2 of 4Activists accused of raiding Israeli weapons factory face trial in Germany

- list 3 of 4‘They try to break us’: Pro-Palestine activists in Czech custody

- list 4 of 4Actors, writers condemn UK anti-terror law targeting Sally Rooney

“That was the first movement, where, in Italy, we felt we needed to do something,” said Luca, a representative from the group, simply named Palestine Action Italy.

It is one of several global offshoots of the proscribed UK group, Palestine Action.

Other groups sharing the Palestine Action name exist elsewhere, including in the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain,…

Politics