Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Activists protested this morning, June 23, 2025, at Syensqo (Brussels) and OIP Sensor Systems (Tournai), accusing them of aiding Israel’s actions in Gaza. No arrests; Camille, an activist, condemned Elbit’s role.
As VRT News reported, this morning, June 23, 2025, activists protested at 2 Belgian companies, Syensqo in Brussels and OIP Sensor Systems in Tournai. They said the companies help Israel with “genocidal acts” in Gaza. The protests started around 7:45 AM, blocking roads to the facilities. At Syensqo, protesters also painted the building red to represent the bloodshed in Gaza.
The activists say Syensqo provides parts for Israeli drones, used in military operations. They claim the company
“knowingly supplies a key component of a weapon known for its use in Israeli war crimes,”
Making them involved in the ongoing genocide.
What role do Belgian arms firms play in the Gaza war?
Protesters gathered outside OIP Sensor Systems in Tournai. This company is owned by Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer. OIP is connected to making optical and targeting systems for the Israeli military.
The protesters say companies like OIP and Syensqo should be responsible for their part in supplying arms, especially when these are used in operations causing civilian deaths and breaking international law.
They mentioned that these protests are part of a larger European movement against military collaboration with Israel during the Gaza war. Police were at both sites, but no arrests were reported this morning. The companies haven’t yet commented on the accusations.
In Tournai, the protest at OIP Sensor Systems went further. Activists entered the industrial area overnight before the morning protest. They went into a storage facility with military equipment and painted some of it red, symbolising the bloodshed in Gaza.
Activists said Elbit supplies over 85% of the drones used by the Israeli army. They see Elbit as a key supporter of Israel’s military actions in Palestinian areas. Vandalising the equipment was meant to draw attention to the “war machine” that the protestors say involves Belgium through its defence firms linked to Israel.
“Elbit is the industrial arm of the genocide in Palestine. The fact that this company has branches in Belgium and makes a profit here is unacceptable,”
Says Camille, one of the activists.
The activists said many police officers were sent to stop the protest. They believe the strong police action shows the government’s priorities. The activists criticised the authorities for protecting arms makers instead of stopping what they call genocide in Gaza.
They claim the government cracks down on those trying to disrupt the arms production linked to alleged war crimes. The activists feel they must act because state institutions aren’t doing so. There’s no official statement yet on how many police officers were there or what legal trouble the protesters might face.
