Activists Take to Belfast Waterfront Hall to Protest Hosting of Israeli Union Histadrut. BDS Day of Action Tuesday 25th (Israeli Apartheid Week)
On Tuesday, a day of action across Belfast took place called by BDS Belfast; protests were held through the week by activists at the conference which was hosting Israel's largest trade union Histadrut
During the week, groups and activists from across Belfast and afar attended actions on Tuesday called for by BDS Belfast, with activists making their way through the city for a full day highlighting the complicity of companies, banks, broadcasters, and others in the whitewashing of Israeli crimes in Palestine and the continued sale of Israeli blood products.
More actions took place throughout the week marking Israeli Apartheid week (Links below)
Day of Action: Tuesday 25th
BDS Day of Action Tuesday 25th
Activists participated in direct actions throughout the day, from McDonald's to Barclays, and across Belfast to shine a light on the continued funding through commercial enterprise of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the genocide of the Palestinian people through the continued financing of the occupation by banking institutions who actively participate in the aiding of the enacting of the genocidal policies be with investment, loans or other services.
The Barclays Bank a clear link to the “Security & Defence” sectors, with large investments in Elbeit, BAE, and other holdings, with large share positions in numerous “defence companies”.
The activists went to BBC studios, reading and comparing headlines to those used by the BBC and those by other outlets, highlighting the discrepancies in reporting when it comes to Palestine and showcasing the BBC’s whitewashing of Israeli crimes.
Links to some of the groups:
Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Waterfront Hall Trade Union Conference Actions Continue: Israeli Apartheid Week
This event had 700 people from across Europe in attendance, including Israel’s largest trade union, Histadrut, a historically staunch supporter of the state; many attendees at the conference showed solidarity with the activists who had made their way to the stage on Tuesday and the message they had brought.
Throughout the week, groups and activists continued their actions, protesting alongside the continuation of the event. Some of those activists were able to enter the hall a second time. They were then carried out of the hall while calling on the attendees to kick the Israeli delegation out.
Video courtesy of Seán. The FULL video should drop on socials below.
The Israeli delegation showed contempt for the message on Tuesday, with some even laughing at it; protestors remained dignified, making the message clear that the people of Belfast oppose Israel and the supremacist ideology of Zionism.
The people stand with Palestine!
Many activists partook in the three days, showing up again on Wednesday and Thursday, when several activists made their way into the event through security and into the main hall.
Making their way calmly to the conference hall. The group made an impromptu speech on stage, firmly addressing the delegates, with some of the delegates coming to show solidarity with the activists. The PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) grabbed and carried them, then ushered the activists out of the building.
(Keep an eye on the BDS Belfast official socials & Seán’s Tik Tok for a full video of Thursday’s action)
The message from the groups and activists broke through not only to participants of the event or local media but even to Israeli media, showing the people of Israel that Belfast and the Island of Ireland stand against the supremacist entity and its policy of erasure and expansion.
From Ireland to England to Scotland and further afield, activists continue to rally in support of Palestine as the situation grows ever increasingly dire for the people there. On Quds day, people mobilized across the world, marking the coming end of Ramadan and Quds day on the last Friday of the Holy month.
