Pro-Palestinian activists in the United Kingdom are preparing to stage coordinated demonstrations in multiple cities, calling on the government to halt military support to Israeli occupation amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

The protests, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, are set to take place on Wednesday in at least five cities, including London, where demonstrators are expected to gather outside arms manufacturing facilities.

Activists plan to display Palestinian flags and visual materials highlighting the humanitarian impact of the war in Gaza, while demanding an end to the UK’s arms trade and military cooperation with occupation regime.

The demonstrations are also expected to spread to cities such as Bristol and Newcastle, targeting companies linked to the defense industry. Protest organizers argue that British-made components are being used in weapons systems deployed in attacks on Palestinians.

The campaign has intensified since October 7, 2023, when occupation regime launched a large-scale military offensive on Gaza. Since then, activists and anti-war groups across the UK have staged repeated actions, including blocking access to factories and military-related sites.

One of the focal points of these protests has been facilities linked to Elbit Systems. In September last year, a factory operated by its UK branch in Bristol was temporarily shut down following sustained actions by activists from Palestine Action.

The group has been at the center of legal and political controversy. The UK Home Office had previously moved to designate the movement under counter-terror frameworks, but the decision was overturned by the High Court of Justice on February 13.

Critics of the government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accuse London of enabling Israel’s military campaign through continued arms exports and defense cooperation, despite growing public opposition.

International media outlets, including BBC, The Guardian and Reuters, have previously reported on similar protests and direct actions targeting arms factories, particularly those linked to Israeli occupation defense firms.

Activists insist that the UK must immediately suspend arms transfers, arguing that such support contributes to what they describe as mass killings, military occupation, and discriminatory policies against Palestinians.

The planned demonstrations are expected to further intensify domestic pressure on the British government as the conflict in Gaza continues to draw international scrutiny. (ILKHA)