Allianz and Aviva drop Elbit Systems insurance after pro-Palestine protests Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Wed, 12/24/2025 - 14:08 Campaigners say activist pressure shows direct action 'gets results' Activists fix a banner as they protest outside the Elbit Systems' Ferranti factory in Oldham, northwest England on 1 February 2021 (AFP/Paul Ellis) Off Insurance companies Allianz and Aviva have reportedly ended their coverage of Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, according to campaigners. Pro-Palestine activists said on Tuesday that the two insurers no longer provide policies to Elbit Systems following months of direct action and protests. The campaign was initially organised by the group Palestine Action in October 2024, before it was proscribed as a terrorist group in July. Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, told Novara Media that “this victory is testament to the power of direct action, and also exemplifies why Palestine Action was proscribed”, adding that “it was banned because it was effective at disrupting the Israeli weapons industry”. Campaign groups Defend Our Juries and Prisoners for Palestine , which oppose the proscription of Palestine Action and the imprisonment of its activists, said in a social media post that the development demonstrates that “direct action gets results”. According to activists, Allianz’s insurance coverage of Elbit Systems ended on 1 November, while Aviva’s employment liability insurance for UAV Engines Ltd - a subsidiary of Elbit - ended on 7 September. Middle East Eye contacted Allianz for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication. Aviva declined to comment. Elbit Systems is a privately owned company that has an 80 percent monopoly over the weapons and equipment for Israel’s land forces and 85 percent of the combat drones used by the air force. The company is accused by critics of being complicit in Israeli war crimes against Palestinians. Palestine Action began targeting Allianz in October 2024, including coordinated actions at 10 offices in a single day. In a now-deleted post on X, demonstrators claimed responsibility for the action, describing Allianz as “investors and insurers of Israel’s biggest weapons firm” and wrote that “without insurance, Elbit couldn’t operate in Britain”. Prior to its proscription, the group carried out more protests, spray-painting offices and occupying Allianz's City of London branch in March. Aviva offices were also targeted, with activists occupying the Bristol centre in January over its insurance of UAV Engines Ltd, which supplied drone engines linked to an attack killing seven aid workers - including three British military veterans - in April 2024. Thunberg arrested Elbit Systems UK is now reportedly covered by employer’s liability insurance from Aspen Insurance, while UAV Engines receives insurance from Chubb. On Tuesday, Aspen’s central London offices were targeted by organisers from Prisoners for Palestine, who blockaded the building and sprayed red paint on the entrance. Elbit Systems: The Israeli arms company under fire from activists Read More » Prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was arrested by UK police outside the offices for holding a placard reading: “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” She was later released on bail. A police statement said she was arrested "for displaying an item (in this case ‍a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary ​to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000". In a statement posted on Instagram , Thunberg said that civilians like herself were acting against “escalating genocides, ecocides and systematic oppression” as world governments fail to fulfil their basic duties. “It then falls onto civilians to take on that responsibility and end our complicity, but when we do, we are met with ever-increasing repression.” She concluded the statement with a call to action: “Free Palestine. Free the Filton24. Shut Elbit down.” Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0