FOA urges Londoners to boycott Israeli apartheid
London (QNN)- Londoners were urged on Saturday to boycott Israeli apartheid as part of a campaign launched by Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) who marched across the city to raise awareness of BDS campaigns.
Yesterday, FOA supporters took part in the closed event marking the launch of FOA’s new range of merchandise, sales from which allow FOA to continue campaigning for freedom, justice and equality for Palestinians.
FOA is a UK-based campaigning organization concerned with defending the human rights of Palestinians and protecting the sacred al-Aqsa Sanctuary in Jerusalem.
Starting at PUMA on Carnaby Street and stopping at Coca-Cola’s Head Office and other locations before reaching Parliament, FOA supporters engaged Londoners with street action emphasising the power of boycotting, divesting from and sanctioning the individuals, companies and culture complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
From the river to the sea, #Palestine will be free 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ynoh0rJO68
— Friends of Al Aqsa (@FriendsofAlAqsa) February 12, 2022
Yesterday’s action follows Amnesty’s recent report that said Israel’ is carrying out “the crime of apartheid against Palestinians” and must be held accountable for treating them as “an inferior racial group”.
Outside the Head Office of Coca-Cola on Wimpole Street, FOA called on individuals and businesses to stop buying the fizzy drink until the company ends its complicity in the human rights abuse of Palestinians.
FOA’s #NotInMyFridge campaign highlights the fact that Coca-Cola operates in Atarot, an illegal Israeli settlement on stolen Palestinian land, making the multinational corporation complicit in apartheid.
At Currys, FOA urged individuals to #PowerOffHP by not buying HP desktops, laptops and printers, as HP provides the technology for the control systems used at Israel’s checkpoints – a key aspect of the illegal occupation.
We’re boycotting @HPUK because it provides the technology used in Israeli checkpoints – a key part of the illegal occupation of Palestine #PowerOffHP pic.twitter.com/j3bhbzUsJk
— Friends of Al Aqsa (@FriendsofAlAqsa) February 12, 2022
Londoners were also encouraged to #CheckTheLabel wherever they shop, to ensure that they are not buying products from illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land.
Yesterday’s action also coincided with the Global Day of Action on PUMA. At PUMA’s flagship store on Carnaby Street, FOA joined with thousands across the world in calling on individuals to #BoycottPUMA until it stops sponsoring the Israeli Football Association (IFA). IFA has football clubs in illegal Israeli settlements, making PUMA complicit in Israeli apartheid along with Coca-Cola and HP.
Today #TeamFOA are marching through London urging Londoners to boycott #IsraeliApartheid ✊🏾
First stop is @PUMA who are complicit in the human rights abuse of Palestinians #BoycottPUMA pic.twitter.com/ZKIuFdAnIx
— Friends of Al Aqsa (@FriendsofAlAqsa) February 12, 2022
Outside Parliament, yesterday’s march demonstrated the strength of opposition to the government’s proposed anti-BDS Bill as well as support for sanctions on ‘Israel’ until it complies with international law.
“In 2022 and beyond, FOA will continue to resist any attempts by the British Government to shut down BDS campaigns that pressure Israel to comply with international law’, said Shamiul Joarder, Head of Public Affairs at FOA.”
“Amnesty’s recent report on Israel as an apartheid state reminds us of South Africa and that boycott, divestment and sanctions are a powerful way to stand up for basic human rights.”
