Palestine Action have begun their occupation of the London offices of Universal Defence and Security Solutions (UDSS). The company claim to offer “military and defence consultancy, assistance, and solutions” to governments, organisations, and manufacturers throughout the world, “both in an independent capacity as well as being part government”. Palestine’s Action have been focused on one of UDSS’ directors, Mark Poffley, a former senior officer in the British Army. Poffley, who has also worked as a Deputy Chief of Defence, is also a director of Elbit Systems UK.
A spokesperson for Palestine Action said:
Palestine Action will not allow war criminals to hide in plain sight. Mark Poffley used to oversee a £38billion budget for the UK Ministry of Defence. Now he’s using his connections and access to profit from the Gaza genocide and benefit Israel’s biggest weapons producer, Elbit Systems.
Activists unfurled banners which read “Mark Poffley War Criminal” and “Shut Elbit Down” and raised the flag of Palestine.
Palestine Action
Activist group Palestine Action have long campaigned against Elbit Systems who are Israel’s biggest weapons manufacturer. The company have produced 85% of Israel’s killer drone fleet, and many other weapons used in Israel’s genocide in Palestine.
The weapons produced by Elbit are often advertised on the international market as “battle tested”, and include quadcopter drones, which have been used to kill the child survivors of the carpet bombing which has reduced Gaza to rubble. The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) found that:
The company is heavily engaged in the militarisation of borders worldwide. It has electronically controlled walls and borders in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 2002, and this experience has enabled the company to become a leader in border surveillance technologies.
UDSS themselves are members of the ADS group, which represents the aerospace, defence, and security industry. And, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, UAV Tactical Systems, Italian arms giant Leonardo, and other weapons makers that have been linked to the Israeli miliary. Palestine Action activists unfurled banners at UDSS’ offices:
BREAKING: Actionists occupy Universal Defence & Security Solutions in London.
A director of the weapons consultancy firm is Mark Poffley, a former deputy to the head of the British army — who also sits on the board of Israel's biggest weapons producer.
pic.twitter.com/NJ2an3hjxX— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 12, 2025
Real Media shared footage of the ongoing protest:
Drums and chants outside office of UDSS in Cannon Street where @Pal_action are protesting. Director Mark Poffley is also a director at Israeli weapons manufacturer #Elbit. The action has entered its sixth hour. pic.twitter.com/kvKTydhFcW
— Real Media (@RealMediaGB) June 12, 2025
Footage showed one actionist explaining that the time for nicely asking for change is long gone:
No more appealing to the oppressors, it's time for direct action.
Palestine Action is still occupying the military consultancy firm which shares a director with Israel's biggest weapons producer. pic.twitter.com/TDMxgwmCsI
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 12, 2025
Accomplices in genocide
Palestine Action have worked relentlessly to dismantle the reach of Elbit Systems in the UK. This latest action is yet another example of their work to halt the near-constant stream of arms from the UK to Israel. The United Nations have made it clear that Israel is committing a genocide in Palestine. As a member state of the organisation the UK will have a case to answer when it comes time to ask why the UK government aided and abetted Israel’s war crimes with weapons and political support.
Featured image via Palestine Action
By The Canary
This post was originally published on Canary.