Barclays Bank’s £1 Billion Ties to Israeli Arms Manufacturer
UK (QNN)- Activists in the United Kingdom called for a boycott of Barclays Bank following reports about its involvement in arming the Israeli military. The campaign has caused the bank to announce that it will close at least 214 of its branches throughout 2023 and 2024.
As the ongoing violent attacks by the Israeli occupation military against the Palestinian people need external support and funding, governments and businesses in the UK have been showing ultimate support for Israel’s genocide. Barclays Bank’s continuous investment in the Israeli arms manufacturer caused criticism and opposition amidst the ongoing Israeli war against the Gaza Strip. The protests, as well as other factors, caused the bank to close dozens of its branches.
Israel’s offensive against Gaza resulted in over 16,000 victims and over 35,000 injuries. While 77% of the strip’s population became houseless.
The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign has uncovered that Barclays Bank holds shares exceeding £1 billion and extends loans and underwriting surpassing £3 billion to nine companies whose weapons, components, and military technology have been used by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians mainly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. By offering investment and financial services to these Israeli arms manufacturers, Barclays actively facilitates the supply of weapons and technology for the Israeli occupation´s militarized repression against Palestinians.
As a consequence of the ongoing war against Gaza that Israel has been conducting for 54 days, protests have been taking place in different locations across Britain demanding Barclays Bank to end its investments in Israeli arms manufacturers.
