Pro-Palestinian protesters blockade arms factory in Kent as they light flares and spray facility with paint

Activists used vehicles to obstruct entrances to the site, with one clambering on top of security boxes to let off flares.

Red paint now covers the premises as protesters claim it symbolises "Palestinian bloodshed spilt by Elbit's weaponry".

The campaign group said: "Palestine Action blockade all entrances into the Elbit's Instro Precision arms factory in Discovery Park, Kent.

"We're more determined than ever to get Israel's biggest weapons manufacturer out of Britain."

In a call for more support, Palestine Action added: "We're here to shut down British complicity with genocide - Join us at Discovery Park, Sandwich."

Palestine Action also targeted the site in June in an attempt to put pressure on the Government to call for a ceasefire and suspend arms sales to Israel.

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Demonstrators will continue to protest against Elbit Systems until the company can no longer operate in Britain.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy last week announced 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel would be suspended, impacting equipment such as parts for fighter jets, helicopters and drones.

The decision was criticised by Israel as it came just days after a group of hostages were found brutally killed in Hamas terror tunnels.

The US also refused to follow suit, with State Department spokesman Matt Miller confirming the UK's decision had no bearing on Washington.

However, pressure is mounting on the West to take action after Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry claimed more than 40,000 Palestinians have died since Israel launched its retaliatory strikes in the Strip after October 7.

However, a Palestine Action spokesman said: "Despite the ongoing Gaza genocide, Britain has allowed 92 per cent of arms export licenses to continue and given permission for Israeli weapons factories to keep operating across the country.

"Although our Government has failed to take meaningful action, ordinary citizens refuse to be complicit in the mass murder of Palestinians and are stepping up to shut Elbit down."

Responding to this morning's incident, a Kent Police spokesman simply said: "Kent Police officers are currently at Discovery Park, Sandwich after being called to a report of a protest shortly before 7.15am on Monday, September 9."