Hundreds of pro-Palestine campaigners target Barclays’ 54 bank branches over allegations they are funding Israel’s attacks

• Demonstrators have organised a ‘day of action’ in several cities across the UK 

Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators have descended on Barclays‘ branches across the UK to protest its alleged funding of Israel’s attacks.

Demonstrators have organised a ‘day of action’ where they will protest outside 54 branches of the bank, demanding an end to what they claim is Barclays ‘bankrolling’ Israel‘s attacks on Palestine.

Hundreds of campaigners were seen chanting and waving flags as they marched past a branch on Northumberland Street in Newcastle.

Protestors have also gathered outside a branch on Kensington High Street in London holding banners urging a ceasefire and calling on the bank to ‘stop investing in Israel’s crime against humanity’. 

Branches in other major cities across the UK including Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham, Brighton, Derby, and Ipswich have also been put on high alert, with security said to have been stepped up at some locations. 

Europe’s largest Palestinian rights organisation, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), has called on people to boycott Barclays.

Its research states: ‘Barclays Bank holds over £1 billion in shares, and provides over £3 billion in loans and underwriting to nine companies whose weapons, components, and military technology are being used by Israel in its attacks on Palestinians.

‘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.

‘As Israel’s genocidal assault on Palestinians continues, take action on Saturday, 27 January 2024 to demand Britain stop arming Israel.

‘Join an action at a Barclays branch demanding the bank stops bankrolling Israel’s attacks on Palestinians, and spread the word about our call to boycott Barclays.’

The action this weekend is described on its website as: ‘As Israel’s genocidal assault on Palestinians continues, take action on Saturday, 27 January 2024 to demand Britain stop arming Israel! 

‘Barclays Bank holds substantial financial ties with arms companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel, used in its attacks on Palestinians.

‘Join an action at a Barclays branch demanding the bank stops bankrolling Israel’s attacks on Palestinians, and spread the word about our call to boycott Barclays.

‘Barclays must #StopBankingOnGenocide and #StopBankingOnApartheid.’

A Barclays spokesperson said it is committed to respecting human rights and that it carries out enhanced due diligence in the defence and security sector.

Ugly scenes at previous protests have seen customers of other high-street names be shouted at and verbally abused for entering businesses claimed as pro-Israel.

In October pro-Palestine activists in Birmingham emptied a box full of mice into a McDonald’s before walking off and shouting ‘f*** Israel’ – after the company offered free meals to IDF soldiers.

M&S has also faced protests after traditional paper hats from crackers were burned in an open fire which activists claimed were the colours of the Palestinian flag and insulting to its people.

Previous weekends have seen police arrest some for terror offences and holding horrific pro-Nazi and anti-semitic signs and slogans while on marches across London.

Barclays branches have been the scene of previous protest action when Just Stop Oil activists super glued 50 ‘doors shut’ and placed posters on them in November.

One source said ahead of today’s action: ‘There’s a real fear this will cause chaos. Barclays are likely to be upping security as a result and the police will be aware.

‘They [Barclays] are braced for action. There’s fear they will copy Just Stop Oil and superglue the doors. Or just sit outside and make life difficult.’

A Barclays spokesperson said: ‘Barclays is committed to respecting human rights as defined by the International Bill of Human Rights and takes account of other internationally accepted human rights standards and frameworks.

‘We have a published statement on defence and security which sets out our policy positions and governs any business activities in the sector, including setting restrictions on certain financing activities and requiring enhanced due diligence as appropriate on clients in the sector.’

‘As a universal bank, Barclays provides a range of client services in relation to the shares of publicly listed companies, including those in the defence and security sector.

‘Such client-driven activities may result in Barclays holding shares in those companies, for example, through hedging positions, market making, custody and underwriting activity.

‘Barclays does not itself intend to make any direct strategic equity investments in the defence and security sector.’

Protests against Israel’s heavy bombing campaign have been common across the UK in recent months as the country faces increasing criticism for the numbers of civilians killed and wounded in the fighting.

The unprecedented death and destruction has led South Africa to accuse Israel of genocide in a case filed with the International Court of Justice, allegations Israel has strongly denied and vowed to contest.

South Africa brought the case to call for an immediate suspension of the invasion of Gaza earlier this month with claims some 25,000 have been killed.

Israel responded by presenting footage of the Hamas terror attack on October 7 to argue it was itself the victim of an attempted genocide and has a right to defend itself.

But international observers question the scale of the response in Gaza that has seen over 80 per cent of the population displaced, towns reduced to rubble, and a humanitarian catastrophe unfold.