Elbit Systems Moves Out of Central Square Following Months of Protest

Elbit Systems, an Israel-based defense contractor, ended the lease of its Central Square office following months of protest against the company’s presence in Cambridge.

The lease to KMC Systems, a medical technology company and subsidiary of Elbit Systems, began in 2021 and was intended to last until 2025, according to the Cambridge Day. However, the office has appeared to sit empty since mid-August, and Elbit Systems confirmed that they vacated the space in a statement.

Elbit Systems, a major supplier of drones and other military equipment to the Israel Defense Forces, has faced frequent protests in Cambridge since Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7. On Oct. 30, nine protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct after multiple police officers were assaulted at a demonstration of approximately 200 people.

In a Thursday post on X, BDS Boston — a local chapter of the “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions” movement which organized many of the protests against Elbit Systems — claimed credit for the move, writing that their organizing “made Elbit’s presence in Cambridge untenable.”

The group added that they will “fight to prevent” Elbit from “moving its ‘Cambridge Innovation Center’ to another location” and said they “are more committed than ever to dismantling Elbit Systems and its collaborators.”

In June, the group also organized a protest at the home of Peter Palandjian ’87 — the CEO of Intercontinental Real Estate — for leasing the office space to Elbit.

Elbit Systems of America leadership confirmed the move in an emailed statement Wednesday but declined to say whether it was influenced by the protests, writing that “Elbit America regularly makes real estate decisions that best serve our company and our employees.”

“​​We continue our work focused on helping improve patient diagnosis and care, by providing testing for COVID-19, cancers and other critical illnesses,” the spokesperson wrote.

They declined to state where Elbit Systems will move their office space.

In an Instagram post last month, BDS Boston wrote that they will try to prevent Elbit from moving to another location in Cambridge.

“Wherever Elbit goes, disruptive community protests follow!” the group wrote.

—Staff writer Elyse C. Goncalves can be reached at elyse.goncalves@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @e1ysegoncalves or on Threads @elyse.goncalves.