CARLISLE'S Palestine advocacy group has held its sixth protest outside of the city's Barclays branch.
Palestine Solidarity Group Carlisle & District staged their protest to highlight the banks claimed financial involvement with companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel.
Chalk figures outside the premises called attention to civilian deaths in Gaza, using the figures to portray the severe impact of military strikes.
According to Al Jazeera (June 29), the latest death toll stands at 38,430 Palestinians and 1,139 people killed in Israel since October 7.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is urging a boycott of the bank in an effort to apply more pressure.
In the past year alone, according to the group, over 3,000 Barclays customers have closed their accounts as part of staged mass account closure days.
In the same weekend, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Wimbledon on Monday with a giant tennis ball and strawberries “tainted with Palestinian blood” to demonstrate against Barclays’ sponsorship of the event.
Barclays has previously addressed the criticism in a statement online, saying it provided financial services to nine defence companies supplying Israel but does not directly invest in such firms.
The group maintained their regular vigil after the protest, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Further vigils are scheduled every Saturday from 1pm to 2pm.
In an upcoming film screening, the Carlisle group will be showing Where Olive Trees Weep, which features renowned trauma specialist Dr Gabor Mate and emphasises the reality of life under occupation in the West Bank.
It will be shown at the Church of Scotland, Chapel Street, on July 19 at 7pm.
Barclays has previously been approached for comment.
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