Israeli arms manufacturer closes UK facility targeted by Palestine Action

In a notable development, Elbit Systems UK has unexpectedly closed its site in the Aztec West business park, Bristol, a facility that had been the focus of persistent protests by the activist group Palestine Action. Despite having a lease in place until 2029, the property was found abandoned—with only a lone security guard present when The Guardian visited—marking a stark end to its operations.

This closure unfolds against a backdrop of heightened legal scrutiny: in July 2025, the UK government designated Palestine Action as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act. Even so, legal challenges are ongoing, with a judicial review of the proscription currently underwayhere legal proceedings continue against activists

Elbit Systems UK is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, which is Israel’s largest arms producer. Elbit Systems, which had revenues of $6.8bn (£5bn) last year, describes itself as the “backbone” of the Israel Defense Force’s (IDF’s) drone fleet, which has been used extensively in the assault on Gaza. Its portfolio also includes systems for military aircraft and helicopters, armed remote control boats, land vehicles and for command and control.

A Decade of Disruption Pays Off

For years, Palestine Action carried the fight into the heart of Britain’s arms industry. With paint, hammers, and sheer determination, activists laid bare what Elbit really represented: a company producing the weapons tested on Palestinians before being sold worldwide. Their actions in Bristol, Filton, Shenstone, and elsewhere disrupted “business as usual” for a corporation profiting from siege and occupation.

The Bristol 7

At the center of this victory stands the “Bristol 7”, a group of activists put on trial earlier this year for daring to challenge Elbit head-on. Charged with burglary, conspiracy, and criminal damage, their courtroom battle revealed something the state feared: the truth about where Elbit’s weapons end up and who pays the price.

Far from being criminals, the Bristol 7 are inheritors of a long tradition of resistance—ordinary people placing their bodies on the line against institutions of violence. Their courage echoes the solidarity brigades of earlier struggles, from South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement to campaigns against wars in Iraq and Vietnam.

Zoe Rogers, 20, is one of activists who was arrested by counter terror police and accused of terrorism. Photo ©Clare Rogers

The UK government has escalated its response. In July 2025, it designated Palestine Action a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act — a move that, critics argue, suppresses dissent while protecting corporations profiting from war. Branding a nonviolent direct-action network as “terrorist” strikes at the heart of free expression.

The ruling carries sweeping implications: anyone who voices support for the group, even “recklessly,” and potentially even journalists who report on its actions in a way deemed sympathetic, could face prosecution. Under the law, showing support for a campaign whose stated goal is to disrupt Britain’s role in Israel’s assault on Gaza is now punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The proscription is currently being contested in the courts.

But Elbit’s departure from Bristol undermines this narrative. If the campaign were “terrorism,” would the company not stand its ground with state backing? Instead, it chose to flee. The truth is undeniable: activists forced one of Israel’s largest arms suppliers out of the city.