London, February 18 (RHC)-- Pro-Palestinian activists have occupied a UK-based Israeli-owned arms manufacturing factory, forcing its closure. The Kent-based Instro Precision, a subsidiary of Israeli arms company Elbit Systems, was occupied on Tuesday, when more than a dozen activists took up positions on the roof and at the entrance.

The activists were responding to the anti-Israeli Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement. The BDS campaign is part of international efforts to pressure Tel Aviv to stop illegal constructions in the occupied Palestinian territory. Israel is highly criticized for its apartheid policies against Palestinians.

The regime has been facing growing criticism since last summer when it launched a 50-day war on the Gaza Strip. More than 2,140 Palestinians were killed in the war, most of them women and children.

According to a press release from the activist group London Palestine Action: "Instro is owned by Israeli arms company Elbit Systems, who make drones that are used to kill Palestinian civilians in Gaza." The statement adds: "Optical and camera systems like those made at the Instro factory are also supplied by Elbit for use in drones flown over Afghanistan, as well as in Israel's apartheid wall."