It seems that third time is a charm for Aviva, as Palestine Action has once again called the company out for its complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Aviva: third time’s a charm
From 7am on Tuesday 11 March, Palestine Action began occupying the entrance of Aviva’s Manchester office at The Observatory, Chapel Walks, M2 1HN. Activists climbed on top of the revolving doors, stuck Palestine flags on the wall and a banner to the front which reads “Aviva Palestina”:
https://twitter.com/Pal_action/status/1899386508966326500
https://twitter.com/Pal_action/status/1899401903664144502
Aviva provides the mandatory employers liability insurance for UAV Engines in Staffordshire, a drone engine factory owned by Israel’s biggest weapons manufacturer, Elbit Systems.
Palestine Action has already targeted Aviva twice this year alone.
This action follows two days of actions against Allianz Insurance, as part of a sustained disruption of the supply chain of Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons manufacturer. Allianz also provide insurance for Elbit Systems weapons factories in Britain.
On Sunday 9 March, a drone flying the Palestine flag was flown over the Allianz Twickenham Stadium during the England v Italy Six Nations match.
Then, in London on Monday 10 March the canopy of their London offices were occupied and doused in paint – forcing Allianz’s London headquarters shut. Cops nicked the actionists after several hours of occupation:
https://twitter.com/Pal_action/status/1899203313347784863
As the Canary previously reported, these two actions came just weeks after a coordinated wave of action struck 15 premises across Europe as Palestine Action continue to target the supply chains of Elbit Systems.
Office windows were smashed and buildings were covered in red paint across Britain, Portugal, Germany, and The Netherlands, with an additional 10 actions taking place in October 2024, including a rooftop occupation of their British head office in Guildford.
Shutting down Elbit – one bit of the supply chain at a time
Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons producer, provide 85% of Israel’s killer drone fleet and land-based equipment, as well as missiles, munitions and digital warfare. Elbit’s quadcopter drones are routinely used to massacre Palestinians in Gaza. Dr Nazim Mamode recalled in Parliament how such drones are used to commit war crimes in Gaza:
What I found particularly disturbing was that a bomb would drop, maybe on a crowded tented area, and then the drones would come down and pick off civilians, children.
He went on to explain how he routinely operated on children who would say:
I was lying on the ground after a bomb had dropped and this quadcopter came down and hovered over me and shot me
Back to Aviva, and Palestine Action had previously targeted its offices in Bristol and Scotland, and have continuously taken direct action against insurance companies with ties to Elbit systems, including actions at dozens of Allianz locations across Europe since October 2024.
Latest intel shows that whilst Aviva no longer holds direct shares in Elbit Systems, however Aviva continues to hold investments in other funds which hold Elbit shares.
A spokesperson for Palestine Action said:
Both Allianz and Aviva, directly enable the production of Israeli weapons in Britain by providing Israeli weapons factories with the insurance they need to operate. Therefore, Palestine Action will continue to take direct action until they cease all ties with Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons producer.
No longer will ordinary people allow companies on our doorsteps to profit from the manufacture of weapons which are “battle-tested” on Palestinians.
Featured image via screengrab
