On Monday 22 January Palestine Action covered Twickenham Stadium in blood red paint, hours before the Defence IQ’s ‘International Armoured Vehicles’ expo was due to commence:
Twickenham Stadium: complicit in Israel’s genocide on Gaza
The event, which is marketed as “the world’s premier international meeting ground for all elements of the armoured community”, hosts representatives of Israel’s weapons trade, including largest weapons company, Elbit Systems Ltd, along with representatives of their British subsidiary Elbit Systems UK and the Israeli state-owned arms manufacturer, Rafael.
Based in Haifa, Elbit is responsible for the manufacture of vast amounts of the Israel‘s military technologies – including 85% of its drones and land-based military equipment, all of its small-calibre ammunition, and an array of munitions, surveillance and targeting technologies, and other armaments.
During the current onslaught on Gaza, which has thus far martyred over 25,000 Palestinians, Elbit Systems’ CEO described the company as playing a crucial role in the genocide, which received gratitude for this by the Israeli military. From this country, Elbit export numerous drone technologies, surveillance and targeting systems, and other weaponry to the Zionist regime, from manufacturing sites in Shenstone, Tamworth, Kent, Bristol, and Leicester.
Palestine Action has, for over three years, worked to prevent manufacture at these premises and to disrupt Elbit’s appearances and marketing wherever possible – including at high-security weapons fairs such as this.
A blood-red reminder
One such example is Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI). Taking place every two years – supported by the UK government, and organised by Clarion Events – DSEI is a massive event for arms dealers. One of its primary functions is to allow arms companies to network with representatives from some of the world’s most repressive regimes.
Companies will encourage delegates from human-rights-abusing nations such as Bahrain, Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to buy the latest weapons to suppress their own populations and/or to wage war against others. Moreover, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) research shows that over 40 Israeli arms companies – including Elbit Systems – had stalls at DSEI in 2023 – weeks before Israel began its genocide in Gaza.
Twickenham has, therefore, was covered in a blood-red reminder of the Palestinian bloodshed for which their guests of honour are responsible:
Other companies present include Thales, Elbit’s partner in running their UAV-Tactical-Systems joint enterprise drone plant in Leicester, along with other firms facilitating Israel’s genocide including Leonardo, BAE Systems, and Teledyne.
A Palestine Action spokesperson said of the expo at Twickenham Stadium:
That Israeli arms dealers are invited as guests of honour at a time when their deadly output is on full show in the Gaza genocide should shame all people who enter this abominable event. After developing their weaponry in the Laboratory of Palestine, Elbit and Rafael then sell these technologies on to other regimes.
While our governments happily turn a blind eye to this brutality, Palestine Action will continue to work to make sure that Israeli war criminals have nowhere to hide.
Featured image and additional images via Palestine Action
