Sangerhausen:Israeli defense company Elbit Systems has decided to cancel its plans for a production facility in Sangerhausen, Germany, following extensive protests from local residents and peace activists.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the company's German subsidiary informed the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper that the site in Sangerhausen was unsuitable for its needs and did not meet essential operational criteria, leading to its removal from consideration in future site selection.

Local groups and peace activists had been protesting for months, accusing Elbit Systems of being complicit in war crimes and genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Claudia Wittig, a senior lawmaker from the left-wing BSW in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, expressed approval of the company's decision, stating that resistance had prevailed and emphasizing the impact of collective action against the arms industry.

Elbit Systems Deutschland had engaged in prolonged discussions with local authorities regarding the construction of the plant in a proposed industrial park in Saxony-Anhalt. The project, however, faced substantial opposition from various stakeholders, including criticisms concerning the company's involvement in military operations in Gaza and concerns over labor shortages and the potential loss of farmland.