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Europe

Pro-Palestinian Activists Wreck Belgian Arms Factory Supplying Ukraine

2025-06-28

Why Ukraine? That makes no sense. What does a Belgian company supplying Ukraine have to do with Palestine or Israel?

[United24Media] Around 150 pro-Palestinian activists stormed the premises of OIP Land Systems, a Belgian defense company that refurbishes military vehicles for Ukraine, causing over $1 million in damage, according to company CEO Freddy Versluys, Belgian media outlet 7sur7 reported on June 24.

The incident, which occurred in the morning on June 23, is expected to delay upcoming armored vehicle deliveries to Ukraine by at least a month.

The activists, dressed in white suits with their faces covered, broke into the factory’s warehouses in Tournai as part of the “Stop Arming Israel” campaign, which calls for a military embargo on Israel and demands sanctions by the Belgian government.

“They ransacked our offices, destroyed computers, and then headed to the workshops, where they severely damaged several vehicles,” said Versluys. “They went on a rampage with spray paint and hammers.”

Versluys emphasized that the damaged vehicles were not intended for Israel but were part of a shipment to Ukraine.

“We no longer sell anything to Israel. …vandalized vehicles meant to defend Ukraine. Their action will delay our next delivery by at least a month.”

The activists targeted OIP Land Systems due to its ownership by Elbit Systems, a major Israeli defense contractor.

Ah. So the objection is that they are Israeli. The Ukraine thing is happenstance. Throw the book at them for forceful entry and destruction… or give the guys on the line axe handles and let them have a bit of fun on their unexpected break.

Protesters claim Elbit supplies 85% of drones and most ground-based weaponry to the Israeli military. However, Versluys insisted OIP has not delivered any defense systems to Israel for over 20 years and operates completely independently.

OIP has played a key role in supplying Ukraine’s military since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, delivering around 260 refurbished armored vehicles to date.

Police from the Tournai region were deployed to the scene, supported by anti-riot units from the Borinage area and a federal police helicopter. Some activists fled into neighboring villages but were pursued by law enforcement. According to the activist group Stop Arming Israel, at least 30 people were arrested.

Versluys announced that the company would be filing a formal complaint against unidentified perpetrators.

Update from the Jerusalem Post at 4:15 p.m. EDT, courtesy of Skidmark:

Anti-Israel activists vandalized and damaged the headquarters of two Belgian companies on Monday, which they claimed were arming Israel; however, a CEO claimed they were supplying tanks to Ukraine, according to Belgian media.

Activists from "Stop Arming Israel" targeted OIP in Tournai and Syensqo in Haren. Organizers claim they are enforcing "the military embargo against Israel imposed by Belgium in 2009," as well as demanding "sanctions against Israel, including the cancellation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement."

At around 5 a.m. in Tournai, about 100 masked activists entered the building and began vandalizing and destroying office space and computers, as well as damaging tanks intended for Ukraine.

About two hours later, at around 8 a.m., activists blocked access to the Syensqo headquarters and sprayed paint on the building. Police were called to remove activists who had chained bikes together to block access to the site. The activists accuse Syensqo of supplying parts for Israeli drones.

SUPPLYING UKRAINE WITH TANKS
OIP is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, one of the largest Israeli arms manufacturers; however, the CEO, Freddy Versluys, told Belga News Agency that despite being owned by an Israeli company, OIP had not manufactured defense systems for Israel in the past 20 years and that they did not have the licenses to export anything to Israel.
He emphasized that the OIP site in Tournai was exclusively focused on supplying Ukraine, and since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they had supplied Ukraine with around 260 armored vehicles.

Versluys estimated that the activists had caused nearly €1 million in damages and set production back by at least a month.

Theo Francken, Defense and Foreign Trade Minister, condemned the group as "an extreme left-wing militia," saying the OIP was supporting Ukraine with military equipment. "If this were an extreme right-wing militia, the country would be in an uproar."

Posted by:Elmerert Hupens2660

#1

😉 HEADLINE ADJUSTED 😉
Russian/Iran Backed Pro-Palestinian Activists Wreck Belgian Arms Factory Supplying Ukraine

Posted by: NN2N1 2025-06-28 07:13

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