Pro-Palestine group protests outside defense firm's London offices

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Pro-Palestinian demonstrators on Thursday blockaded the London offices of a defense firm said to be linked to Israel's military supply chain.

"Palestine Action blockade weapons firm Thales’ London offices, disrupting a lethal link in Israel’s military supply chain," Palestine Action said on X. "We SHUT IT DOWN for Palestine!"

It also shared a footage showing the entrance sprayed with blood-red paint, with "Free, free Palestine!" chants in the background.

The group has held similar attempts outside Elbit system's offices, and most recently its activists in London occupied the entrance of Leonardo weapons firm.

At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed in Israeli air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip since a cross border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

Besides the large number of casualties and massive displacements, basic supplies are running low for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents due to the Israeli siege.

Food is running out, and bakeries are inoperable in the Gaza Strip, according to the World Food Program.

At least 650 trucks carrying essential aid have entered Gaza since Oct. 21 but people need much more, the UN humanitarian affairs office said on Wednesday.