Demonstrators call on Barclays to ‘stop supporting war in Gaza’

Date published: 01 December 2023

Palestine supporters gathered outside the Rochdale branch of Barclays on Saturday (25 November), as protests took place at various north west branches of the bank.

The demonstration called for Barclays ‘to stop supporting the war in Gaza’ with supporters opposing the bank’s alleged investment in arms firms supplying Israel.

Citing research by Dutch think tank Profundo, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign says that the banking giant “holds over £1bn in shares and provides over £3bn in loans and underwriting to nine companies whose weapons, components and military technology have been used in Israel’s armed violence against Palestinians.”

The campaign group added: “By providing investment and financial services to these arms companies, Barclays facilitates the provision of weapons and technology for Israel’s militarised repression of Palestinians.”

Members of the Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group, which campaigns on a wide range of issues related to peace and disarmament, gathered outside the Yorkshire Street bank from 11am in protest.

Pat Sanchez, secretary of the Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group, said: “Customers were shocked to learn that Barclays were using their money to support companies that are making and supplying Israel with the weapons and military equipment currently being used to kill Palestinians and destroy their homes.

“The people of Rochdale, which has some communities that are particularly affected by both these issues, deserve more respect from a bank that has a reputation it needs to restore if they are to continue entrusting it with their money.”

Barclays has previously come under fire by environmental campaign groups for investing in fossil fuel companies.

Barclays declined to comment.