Protesters block RTX weapons manufacturing in Vermont and demand ceasefire

Dozens of protesters on Monday blocked the entrance to an American weapons manufacturing plant in rural Vermont, where they called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to arming Israel's military.

The protesters blocked the entrance during a shift change, preventing employees from being able to enter, clock in, and begin their work.

"To be clear: it is our government that bankrolls the occupation. It is our government that bankrolls and arms Israel’s genocidal campaign," April, an organiser with the protest, said in a statement shared with MEE.

"Weapons manufacturers like Raytheon depend on us to make profit, so they use fear to keep us divided. As an American Jew, I reject solutions that pit Jews and Palestinians or Arabs against each other. We build safe communities through solidarity."

The US has been the biggest supporter of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, much of that support coming in the form of weapons shipments to the country to aid and replenish Israel's arms stockpile.

The Biden administration has fast-tracked multiple shipments of bombs and munitions to the country and sent thousands of pounds of weapons.

RTX, formerly known as Raytheon, is a key American defence contractor that provides weapons systems for Israel's military. RTX makes missiles for Israel's Iron Dome defence system, and also makes parts, including bombs and missiles, for the F-35 fighter jet.