Russell Brand calls for Israel boycott: ‘Stop facilitating the oppression of people in Gaza’

Russell Brand has urged banks and big businesses to sever investment ties with Israel in wake of Gaza conflict

gaza

by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

Russell Brand has already publicly condemned the Israel-Gaza conflict, but now the comedian has targeted banks and businesses, urging them to sever investment ties with Israel and stop "facilitating the oppression of the people in Gaza".

READ: 5 MONTH OLD BABY KILLED AS ISRAEL INVADE GAZA

Using Barclays as an example, Russell said the bank manages “the portfolios of an Israeli defence company called Elbit, which makes the drones that bomb Gaza.

"The message they give us is the exact opposite of the reality, they're acting like they're part of our community.

"But if we're aware of the reality of what they do, then we have the power to influence them.

“We know that money is behind everything, if we affect the money we can change anything.”

WATCH: JOURNALIST BREAKS DOWN ON LIVE TV AFTER WITNESSING HUNDREDS OF DEATHS IN ISRAEL/PALESTINE CONFLICT

He went on to encourage his viewers to sign a petition on the Avaaz campaign website, to ask companies such as Barclays, computer company HP, security giants G4S, pension fund ABP and heavy machinery Caterpillar brand to rethink their investments.

SEE: GAZA CEASEFIRE BROKEN AFTER JUST THREE HOURS

The mission statement on the petition reads: "In the wake of the terrible violence unfolding in Israel-Palestine, we, citizens from around the world, are deeply concerned about your companies’ continued investment in companies and projects that finance illegal settlements and the oppressive occupation of the Palestinian people.

"17 EU countries recently issued warnings to their citizens against doing business or investing in illegal Israeli settlements. Given those legal considerations, you now have the opportunity to withdraw investments and respect international law.

"This is a chance to be on the right side of history."

READ: OUTRAGE AS IT'S REVEALED SIMON COWELL DONATED £90K TO ISRAELI ARMY, WHO HAVE CAUSED DEATHS OF HUNDREDS IN GAZA

So far, it has amassed almost 1.7million signatures of support.

Meanwhile HP and Caterpillar have denied Brand's claims, with HP having said that "human rights is a core value" of its business.

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