Barclays Bank has been actively supporting the arms industry, which has contributed to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, particularly in Gaza and the occupied territories.
Recent statistics indicate that the number of people displaced in Palestine since Israel's continued outright offensive in Gaza and its occupied territories against the Palestinian people has reached approximately 400,000. Without the funding of places like Barclays and the stocking of blood products by shops from occupied lands, this could not continue, at least not to the extent at which it has been able to. The economic effects of these campaigns have taken a heavy toll on the economy of Israel.
The bank continues to refute that it “ directly invests” in weapons manufacturers; it can be seen that it holds “indirect” investments in weapons companies, as stated by Barclays themselves.
“Our clients in this sector include US, UK, and European companies which supply defence products to NATO and its allies”
“We have been asked why we invest in nine defence companies supplying Israel, but this mistakes what we do.
“We trade in shares of listed companies in response to client instruction or demand and that may result in us holding shares. Whilst we provide financial services to these companies, we are not making investments for Barclays and Barclays is not a “shareholder” or “investor” in that sense in relation to these companies”
“We note also that Elbit is highlighted because campaigners claim it makes cluster bombs. We would cease any relationship with any business where we saw evidence that it manufactures cluster bombs or components”
“We have noted the UK and US Governments’ concern with respect to civilian deaths and the targeting of aid workers, and will continue to monitor developments closely”
Barclays Bank Statement
You can find more on the BDS actions, including at shops in Belfast and some of the information on Barclay’s, in the links below:
The nations that benefit from these companies, such as the US, UK, etc., have been and continue to be evidenced in the supplying of military aid and transferring of weapons and weapon platform parts to the regime in Israel. The Trump administration, in March, pushed through an emergency bill of military assistance to Israel amounting to $4 billion.
“Since taking office, the Trump Administration has approved nearly $12 billion in major FMS sales to Israel. This important decision coincides with President Trump’s repeal of a Biden-era memorandum which had imposed baseless and politicized conditions on military assistance to Israel at a time when our close ally was fighting a war of survival on multiple fronts against Iran and terror proxies.
The Trump Administration will continue to use all available tools to fulfill America’s long-standing commitment to Israel’s security, including means to counter security threats”
Press Statement Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Not only this, but they will again be used in the ventures of the imperialists and, inevitably, on the backs of ordinary working-class communities as this industry continues to expand. It won’t stop there as the establishments seek to remilitarize given future conflict or intervention, as seen so many times throughout history seems inevitable.
Belfast March to the BBC.
The BBC continues in its lopsided reporting and silence on the true nature of the Israeli violence and occupation.
👇🏻Links to the groups and organisations below👇🏻
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