Pro-Palestine activists blocked the entrance to a defence contractor's factory in Southampton this morning as they campaign to end the war in Gaza.

A group of seven protestors gathered outside the entrance to Leonardo UK's factory, on First Avenue in Millbrook, on Thursday with a banner reading “Shut down Leonardo”.

They gathered at 8am with staff facing long queues as they tried to get to work.

Some activists held a swath of red cloth to symbolise “the line Leonardo UK have crossed by continuing to profit from Israel’s murderous ongoing onslaught on Gaza”.

Leonardo is one of the UK's leading aerospace companies and one of the biggest suppliers of defence and security equipment to the UK Ministry of Defence.

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Pro-Palestine protestors block the entrance to Leonardo Southampton (Image: Supplied) Its Southampton factory manufactures InfraRed (IR) detectors and Thermal Imaging (TI) sensors which play "a crucial role in supporting military, security and civil clients."

Speaking to the Echo, Mona Lisa, from activist group Shut Down Leonardo Southampton, said she hoped the demonstration would see Leonardo “cease production” across the country.

She said: “The aim is for Leonardo UK to cease production across the country and end the ongoing war in Gaza.

“Protests will continue until all UK arms exports to Israel are stopped.  

“We always invite and hope that staff at the factory will support our actions, but we’re often met with opposition.

“There are ongoing escalations in the West Bank and people are being murdered Palestine, today’s blockade shows that members of the community are trying to bring it to a stop.”

Police officers were present during the blockade, with Hampshire police “ensuring the safety of everyone at the location and to minimise disruption to the local community.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “Everyone has the right to free speech and peaceful protest which must be respected.

“Policing protests requires us to balance the rights of those peacefully protesting and the rights of others to go about their lives without being subject to unacceptable disruption, whilst keeping the public safe. 

“The protest had concluded shortly after 9am with no reported issues.”

Leonardo was contacted for comment.