Three people detained over fire at Czech-Israeli arms factory

As the global arms trade faces rising backlash over its role in the Middle East conflict, three people have been detained over an arson attack on a Czech Republic factory, according to Al-Monitor via Reuters on March 24th.

Czech and Slovak police detained US and Czech citizens on terrorism charges following a fire at a site housing Czech company, LPP Holding, and Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence contractor.

Elbit Systems describes itself as the “backbone of the Israeli Army,” and specialises in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), electronic warfare systems and advanced artillery.

It is one of several companies facing scrutiny over its alleged complicity in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

The fire broke out on March 20th; an underground group, Earthquake Faction, claimed responsibility for the arson.

Earthquake Faction describes itself as targeting “key sites critical to the Zionist entity… to destroy all limbs of empire from within, by any means effective.”

Whether the three people detained were part of the group remains unclear, as the police have not released further information.

Action against arms factories is not limited to the Czech Republic, as activists across Europe have launched campaigns against weapons suppliers.

Denmark and the UK have ruled that arms shipments to Israel are legal, despite concerns about complicity in war crimes.

Several European nations have continued to export arms to Israel, including Serbia, France and Germany, although the latter suspended exports between August and November 2025 over Israeli plans to fully occupy Gaza.

Germany signed a deal with a subsidiary of Israel’s Rafael in October 2025 to supply the German military with anti-tank missiles.

Additionally, Serbia’s arms exports have reached record levels since 2023, with ammunition being sold to a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, Ta’as Ma’arachot.

Furthermore, the US approved a $151.8 million munitions sale to Israel on March 6th, forgoing the mandatory congressional review required for large arms sales.

In December 2025, the Pentagon announced a $8.6 billion contract to supply Israel’s Air Force with F-15 fighter jets from Boeing.

Beyond the West, Israel has developed defence ties with Morocco, while arms manufactured by Israel have been used by Thailand’s military in their border war with Cambodia.

Similarly, India discussed defence ties with Israel during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit on February 25th, during which he met with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, and addressed the Israeli Knesset.

Al-Monitor via Reuters, Maghrebi.org