PALESTINE ACTION activists who occupied a weapons factory to disrupt weapon productions for Israel in Shipley are set to go on trial on Monday.

The four activists were charged with criminal damage after they were seen scaling and taking a sledgehammer to the roof of the US-owned Teledyne Defence and Space factory on April 2.

The factory manufactures components for missiles, electronics, gunsights and munitions for the Israeli military.

Operations were ground to a halt as a result of the action.

Two out of four activists were remanded to prison afterwards.

One was held for approximately one month, while the other was held for three months. 

Teledyne’s Shipley factory manufactures key components for missile systems, namely missile filters.

Palestine Action says the firm “boasts of its involvement with missile products procured by Israel, including the AGM-Harpoon, AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles deployed by Israel against Gaza — the latter reportedly being used to strike al-Shifa hospital.”

It also produces parts, including filters and multifunction assemblies for drones and aircraft, along with radar systems such as the type fitted in F-35 Fighter jets used by Israel.

Since 2018, its parent company Teledyne Technologies has applied for 134 export licenses to Israel.

A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “Under Section 1 of the Genocide Convention, Britain is obliged to prevent and punish the commission of genocide. 

“When our government fails to do so, it’s the legal and moral obligation of ordinary people to take direct action. 

“The weapons manufacturers arming genocide are the guilty ones, not Palestine Action.”

It comes after it was announced on Thursday that co-founder of Palestine Action Richard Barnard faces three charges over giving two speeches.

Mr Barnard is accused of supporting a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act and two counts of encouraging criminal damage against arms manufacturers.

Government ministers continue to reject calls to suspend arms exports while the death toll in Gaza tops 40,000. 

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has pushed back against publishing legal advice on whether the exports are being used to facilitate international war crimes, despite calling on the previous Tory government to do so while in opposition. 

Complicity requires all licences to be suspended, according to government rules.