Activists have blockaded access points into a Kent weapons factory by lying across the road and locking themselves to gates.

Eight pro-Palestine protestors claim they have “successfully shutdown” Instro Precision in Sandwich Discovery Park after attaching themselves with ‘lock-ons’.

It is a technique employed to make it difficult to remove activists, often involving improvised or specially designed and constructed hardware.

Activist group Palestine Action says the factory, a subsidiary of Israeli drone manufacturer Elbit Systems, produces a range of weaponry and military equipment which is used in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

Police are at the scene and lorries can be seen queuing in the area.

A spokesperson for the group said: "Our commitment to the struggle for Palestinian liberation remains stronger than ever, which means we must shut down the means of weapons production for the Israeli military.

“We refuse to continue appealing to the political establishment to end our collective complicity in genocide.

“Instead, we will take direct action to shut down Israel's weapons trade.”

Elbit Systems’ website states it offers a range of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

“The design of our UAS is based on decades of operational experience, and the systems are in service with numerous military and security forces worldwide,” it states.

“The UAS are the backbone of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) UAS force.

“Elbit Systems’ extensive experience and innovative approach to all aspects of UAS development, production, fielding and support result in outstanding UAS performance and highly effective operational yields around the globe.”

Last year, dozens of pro-Palestine protestors blocked the entrances to the factory.

The Workers for a Free Palestine group says 150 people were at the scene.

The overall death toll in Gaza is estimated to be more than 32,000 people, but the World Health Organisation says the real figure could be even greater.

Unicef says more than 13,000 children have been killed in the Hamas-run territory but Israel says it tries to minimise civilian casualties.

The conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups has taken place mostly in and near the Gaza Strip since October 7.

It started when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel which saw 1,200 killed in the country’s worst loss of life since its founding in 1948.

On October 27, the Israeli military launched a large-scale ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

A police spokesman said: “Officers are at the scene of a protest at Discovery Park, near Sandwich.”