Palestine action blocks Manchester offices over links to Israel

Palestine Action has targeted another link in the chain of UK complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as the Manchester offices of ‘CDW UK’ were forced to close by an activist blockade.

Action for Palestine: CDW has been closed

Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms company, is facilitated in their UK presence by the support provided by CDW Software and Technology Services.

So, as part of a national campaign against complicity in Israeli atrocities, on Monday, July 1, Palestine Action activists used a vehicle and a locking device to block the rear entrance:

Stakeholders block the back and occupy the front of CDW’s Manchester offices.

By providing IT and supply chain management solutions to Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems, the firm is making the weaponization of genocide more efficient. pic.twitter.com/UWHV80vzJ1

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) July 1, 2024

Another occupied the windowsill at the entrance to the building:

The Manchester building was also splashed with blood-red paint to serve as a reminder to CDW of the Palestinian bloodshed their firm is profiting from:

CDW provides supply chain management, IT solutions, cyber security and e-procurement services for the UK operations of the Elbit brand, part of the global Israeli arms company.

CDW is contracted for IT services to ‘Elbit Systems UK Ltd’, headquartered in Bristol, from which Elbit oversees drone and weapons production nationwide. It is not the first time the company has been targeted, with activists spraying a site in Peterborough with red paint and smashing its windows.

This action in Manchester follows in the footsteps of others taken to target Elbit’s partners and suppliers.

Shutting down Israel’s supply chain

As the Canary previously reported, last week Palestine Action activists occupied the GRiD Defense Systems site in High Wycombe, barricading themselves inside and destroying hardware and unfurling banners.

It came after activists destroyed dozens of boxes of GRiD processors found inside the Elbit factory in Kent during a crackdown, with the total damage caused by police estimated at more than £1m.

GRiD manufactures a range of military computers, processors and similar electronic equipment, either for direct use on the battlefield or for integration into other systems.

Since October 7, Israel has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, injured more than 86,000 and displaced most people from Gaza. Elbit Systems supplies the majority of Israel’s military drone fleet, ground equipment, bullets, ammunition and missiles.

Their weaponry is often marketed as “combat tested” after being deployed against the people of Gaza. The Gaza genocide would not be possible without Elbit’s weaponry – and those firms, including CDW and GRiD, are made complicit by facilitating Elbit’s deadly business.

CDW is not the first to be targeted. Following similar actions, five other companies have ended their association with Elbit’s deadly trade in the past two months. These include gun carriers Elbit Kuehne+Nagel, associate recruiters iO, property managers Fisher German, website designers Naked Creativity and law firm MLL Legal.

Palestine Action says it will continue to target all those who allow Elbit to continue his genocidal business until they declare that they have severed all ties.

Featured image and additional images via Palestine Action