NORTHAMPTON — About two dozen prostrate protesters lined the sidewalk outside L3Harris for two hours Tuesday afternoon in a “die-in” to protest the company’s contribution to Israel’s war effort in Gaza.

Dozens more participated, some holding large signs to be read by passing motorists with messages including “Divest from L3Harris,” “War Criminals” and “Do Something.” Many vehicles honked in support as they passed by on Route 66.

Organizer Nick Mottern of Demilitarize Western Mass said people have been coming to protest every week outside L3Harris, a branch of the ninth largest weapons manufacturer in the world. The Northampton plant manufactures submarine periscopes and electro-optical targeting equipment for the U.S. Navy.

Protesters have called directly on company management to stop shipping weapons to Israel, but have received no response, he said. Four protesters were arrested last month outside the loading dock gates after they secured themselves to a pickup truck and refused to move.

On Tuesday, Eve Grazier, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, denounced the destruction of Gaza in the name of “Jewish safety.”

The Rev. Peter Kakos, a member along with Mottern of the Leahy Fast for Palestine, linked the approaching July Fourth holiday to current events, saying the British oppressor of 250 years ago was now in league with the U.S. in equipping Israel to continue to massacre thousands of people in Gaza.

“We stand to remember those who’ve lost their lives,” he said. “We’re standing up to say to them, enough is enough.”

Protester Jennifer Scarlott announced she would undertake an act of “physical solidarity” with the women of Gaza and cut off her hair.

In particular, she cited Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda, who has been reporting from Gaza over the last nine months and has had to evacuate at least a dozen times. In contrast to her earlier reporting, Scarlott said, her most recent dispatches have grown more despairing. Owda has said she now plans to stay where she is in Khan Younis, whatever may happen.

The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strip’s second-largest city.

Much of Khan Younis was destroyed in a long assault earlier this year, but large numbers of Palestinians had moved back to escape another Israeli offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city, Rafah.

Most of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, with many displaced multiple times. Israeli restrictions, fighting and the breakdown of public order have hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid, fueling widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine.

Israel launched its offensive after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people across southern Israel and took another 250 hostage. In its military campaign in response, Israel has killed at least 37,900 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or fighters.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.