On Monday 3 June Palestine Action upped the ante over genocide-enabling Barclays – by targetting two locations of the Israel-complicit bank.
Palestine Action: going after Barclays again
Overnight, Palestine Action activists targeted the Bradford and Bolton branches of Barclays, investors in Israel’s largest weapons firm – Elbit Systems. This was Bolton:
Activists left windows smashed and sprayed the banks red, marking them with a symbol of Palestinian bloodshed. This was Bradford:
Barclays Bank holds over £1bn in shares and provides over £3bn in loans and underwriting to nine companies whose weapons, components, and military technology are being used by Israel in its genocidal attacks on Palestinians.
Complicit in Israel’s genocide
This includes General Dynamics, which produces the gun systems that arm the fighter jets used by Israel to bombard Gaza, and Elbit Systems, which produces armoured drones, munitions, and artillery weapons used by the Israeli military.
Amongst Barclays £3bn investments and loans in companies facilitating the Gaza genocide, the bank holds shares in Elbit Systems which is the primary target of Palestine Action’s campaign. Elbit Systems provide 85% of Israel’s military drone fleet and land-based equipment, as well as bombs, missiles and other weaponry.
The Israeli weapons maker market their weapons as “battle-tested” after they are developed during bombardments on occupied Palestine. Palestine Action’s campaign of direct action has seen hundreds of occupations, redecorations and other disruptive actions against Elbit Systems directly, forcing two of their weapons factories permanently shut.
The direct action network has also undertaken to ensure that firms which facilitate Elbit operations are exposed and undermined, with Elbit investors targeted alongside landlords, suppliers, and other collaborators. To date, several companies including recruiters and an international law firm have all ended ties following a relentless campaign by the group.
A Palestine Action spokesperson said:
Broken windows and red paint is incomparable to the Palestinian blood spilt and the destruction of Gaza, which Barclays continues to profit from. Banks can not get away with murder and when all else fails, it’s up to the people to ensure humanity is upheld. Palestine Action will continue to act until the bank divests from Israel’s biggest weapons firm, Elbit Systems.
Featured image and additional images via Neil Terry and Palestine Action
