A “peace camp” erected near an arms factory will be removed from council land.

Brighton and Hove City Council said it plans to get rid of the “unauthorised” encampment erected on its land in protest against the factory’s links to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The camp, set up nearly a week ago, is a protest against the L3Harris arms factory in Home Farm Business Park in Moulsecoomb.

A council spokesman said: “The people at the unauthorised encampment on the Lewes Road have made it clear to us that they are there as a protest.

“We respect the right to protest but we do not accept unauthorised encampments.

“We always take action to remove unauthorised encampments as soon as due legal process allows.”

Campaigners set up the camp on council land next to Lewes Road last weekend calling for Brighton and Hove City Council to act against the arms factory, which produces bomb racks used in fighter jets sent to Israel.

A spokeswoman for the camp said the group wanted to “bring visibility” to the issue and “build a community around the resistance” to the factory.

Protesters say there is a rotating group of demonstrators manning the camp. They have not decided how long they will stay.


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It comes after The Argus revealed that bomb racks manufactured in the L3Harris factory in Moulsecoomb are used in F35 fighter jets built in America.

The Argus: Campers at the peace campCampers at the peace camp (Image: Natasa Leoni)

These fighter jets are then sold to Israel via the United States Government Foreign Military Sales Process.

Social media posts suggest that F35 fighter jets are used by the IDF in the conflict in Gaza.

Protesters also called on the council to reject a planning application linked to the factory which would allow it to keep a temporary extension if approved.

Protests have been held across the city calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and rallying against L3Harris.

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove Stop The War said the group "offers full solidarity and support" to the camp.