Pro-Palestinian and anti-war protesters have picketed the gates of east Belfast weapons manufacturer Thales.
The French-owned company’s air defence division works from a site previously occupied by Short’s Missile Systems. It employs around 600 people.
The protesters highlighted the firm’s links to Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms company that produces the Hermes 450 drone, which has been used against Palestinians.
A statement from the protesters called on Thales and its workers to “stop producing arms that will be used to deadly ends” and to end its association with Elbit Systems.
The company also manufactures Starstreak missiles which the British government has supplied to Ukraine to be used against the Russians.
Pro-Palestinian activists were blamed for causing £600,000 worth of damage at Thales’s Glasgow factory in 2022.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin, the DUP and Alliance have been accused of blocking a “Palestine solidarity motion” from being heard by Belfast City Council.
The People Before Profit motion called for a ceasefire in Gaza and for parties to boycott the White House on St Patrick’s day over US support for Israel.
However, PBP councillor Michael Collins said the council’s standards and business committee had “vetoed” the motion, preventing its debate at full council on Thursday night.
“Some 30,000 people have been massacred in Gaza, where Israel continues to bomb, starve, and brutalise a civilian population of two million Palestinians,” Mr Collins said.
“Calls for a ceasefire must be combined with affirmative action that can force Israel to stop the slaughter.”
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said the party had been “clear and unequivocal” in calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid, as well as “an end to Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people”.
“We will use every political and diplomatic opportunity and influence that we have to be a voice for Palestine, to demand an end to the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, for Palestinian statehood and for a permanent ceasefire now,” the spokesperson said.
A statement from Alliance said the party had “consistently called for a ceasefire in Gaza” and had supported a “number of motions to this effect at Belfast City Council over the past five months”.
“We also continue to engage with a wide range of governments and other organisations on this matter,” the statement said.
The DUP has also been approached for comment.