On 13th January, campaigners across the south west stopped business at Gooch and Housego’s (G&H) Artemis site in Plymouth. The action marks the start of a new campaign—Shut Down G&H—committed to shutting down a company that’s deeply complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
According to research by Campaign Against Arms Trade, G&H, with the acquisition of Phoenix Optical Technologies last year, is now the largest recipient of single-issue arms export licenses to Israel between October 2021 and May 2023. G&H exports a range of military equipment to Israel, including components for head-up/down displays for military aircraft. G&H Artemis provides optical and laser technology for head-up displays.
On the ground, activists reported that many of the workers couldn’t gain entry to the factory due to the disruption.
A spokesperson for Shut Down G&H said:
“This act of resistance was inspired by the growing awareness that G&H is directly implicated in the murder of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is unconscionable. As the local community, we are taking action to reject our city’s complicity in Israel’s genocide and display our unequivocal solidarity with the struggle for Palestinian life, freedom, and self-determination.
“Today’s action is only the start. G&H has offices across the South West. We can and we must shut them down!”.
Campaign Against Arms Trade’s Media Coordinator, Emily Apple, said:
“It’s great to see this campaign being launched today. For too long, G&H has gotten away with slipping under the radar. It should be a household name. Everyone should know this company is complicit in and profiting from Israel’s genocide.
“In only imposing a partial arms suspension, this government has made it clear that it will continue to prioritise arms dealers’ profits over Palestinian lives and international law. It’s therefore down to ordinary people across the country to take action and say no to the genocide profiteers on their doorsteps.”.
