Thales' Belfast plant
Thursday 5 September 2024 9:28
Pro-Palestine activists are planning to stage a rally at this weekend's Portrush Airshow to protest over the event's association with weapons manufacturer Thales.
Protestors say it has links to an Israeli arms company that produces drones which have allegedly been used against Palestinians.
The French-owned company sponsoring the Airshow makes drone components but denies it supplies the Israeli military and says it only deals with the UK Ministry of Defence.
Saturday's protest rally has been organised by the East Derry Branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).
The group has taken to social media urging people to gather under the flight path at Kerr Street Green at 12.30pm on Saturday.
Among those planning to attend is Riley McCahon from Causeway Pride.
“We are very much standing behind the protest,” he said.
“It's upsetting to think that in Portrush on Saturday people will be looking up at the sky at these amazing planes while in Gaza people are looking up at the sky wondering if they are going to be killed by the next air raid.”
The Chronicle has contacted Thales over the protestors' claims. The firm has yet to respond but has said in the past that it adheres to “rigorous and transparent” controls on weapons exports and it does not supply the Israeli military or Israeli MOD