As a student at the University of Southampton, I am demanding the immediate cease of our institution's indirect complicity in the active genocide against Palestinians.

The university holds financial ties with Barclays Bank, a bank that holds over £1 billion in shares, provides over £3 billion in loans in and underwriting to nine companies who’s weapons, components and military technology are being used by Israel in it’s attack on Palestine.

Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, majority being women and children. Whilst thousands of other Palestinians are starved, killed, tortured, displaced and traumatised.

By providing investment and financial services to these arms companies, Barclays is facilitating, and profiting from Israel’s militarised repression, which sustains its apartheid rule over Palestinians.

One of the nine companies identified is Elbit Systems. It supplies 85% of UAV’s (drones) used by the Israeli army. During Israel’s deadly bombardment and ground invasion of the besieged Gaza Strip in 2014, a range of Elbit Systems produced weaponry, including drones, was used by Israel. The 51 day attack killed over 2,200 Palestinians, 551 of them children. Elbit Systems’ components are also found in Israel’s F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, used in repeated attacks on the Gaza Strip.In addition, Elbit Systems is also associated with the production of banned cluster munitions, which are banned under international law.

Elbit Systems is just one of nine companies identified in the research. Barclays also invests in General Dynamics, which provides gun systems to fighter jets used by Israel in its deadly bombardment of the Gaza Strip, and Caterpillar, which provides Israel with bulldozers which are weaponised and used to demolish Palestinian homes, schools, and other civilian infrastructure, in violation of international law.

This is not about politics or antisemitism; this is about standing up against an active genocide and humanitarian crisis. By maintaining the relationship with Barclays Bank, our university indirectly supports these atrocities.

We must hold our institutions accountable for their actions and demand they uphold ethical standards. Therefore, we call on the University of Southampton to cut ties with Barclays Bank immediately as a stand against genocide and oppression.

Links:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/finance/services/bank-details.page​

https://palestinecampaign.org/campaigns/stop-arming-israel-3/​

https://palestinecampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/Barclays-Arming-Apartheid-FINAL-1.pdf​

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68430925.amp

Please join me in urging our university to take action now by signing this petition.