A 72-year-old pensioner is among two women who have been arrested during a pro-Palestine protest in Belfast.
Sue Pentel, a prominent member of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), was detained alongside another woman in her 50s on suspicion of criminal damage.
Video footage circulating online shows Pentel being forced into the back of a police van by two officers after the demonstration in the Castle Place area.
Before being led to the police vehicle, the elderly activist was heard saying: "Children are starving in Gaza, don't use Barclays Bank."
Sue Pentel was detained on suspicion of criminal damage
Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
The PSNI said they received a report relating to a protest in the Castle Place area on Saturday morning and officers attended the scene.
According to a statement from Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) Belfast, Pentel is being held "on the charge of criminal damage for putting a small sticker on a cash machine".
The Irish News reported that activists were demonstrating outside the bank and calling for a boycott when they were arrested after stickers promoting the boycott were allegedly placed on a bank machine.
Several politicians have criticised the arrests.
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan called the detention "disgraceful", saying: "It is disgraceful that Sue Pentel - an elderly Jewish woman who has consistently and bravely campaigned for an end to Israel's genocide in Gaza - has been arrested by the PSNI."
He added: "Highlighting the genocidal, inhumane slaughter of defenceless civilians - and those who enable it - is not a crime."
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According to a statement from Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) Belfast, Pentel is being held 'on the charge of criminal damage for putting a small sticker on a cash machine'
Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said: "All over the world Israel's legitimacy has utterly crumbled. And so the establishment is ramping up its repression to try and silence protestors."
SDLP councillor Paul Doherty expressed being "deeply concerned" by the arrests during what he described as a peaceful protest.
The IPSC Belfast expressed shock at "the PSNI treatment of a lifelong anti-racist activist who was arrested for standing up to protect international human rights and law."
In a statement, the group said they support "the international calls for the boycott of companies which help to fund and arm Israel in its brutal campaign against the people of Palestine."
A joint statement from Derry IPSC, Mid Ulster IPSC and BDS Strabane said they were "shocked but not surprised, at the serious escalation in the criminalisation of Palestine activists."
Local politicians voiced their outrage at the arrest
Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Following the arrests, a number of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Musgrave Police Station where the two women are being held in custody.
The demonstration was organised in solidarity with the detained activists, with supporters demanding their release.
"We stand in full solidarity with all those facing repression for speaking out against genocide," the joint statement from Derry IPSC, Mid Ulster IPSC and BDS Strabane added.
Councillor Doherty called for the activists "to be released without charge," stating: "Barclays should rightfully be boycotted due to their financial ties with companies that supply weapons and military technology to Israel."
Sinn Féin's Pat Sheehan confirmed his party would be "raising our concerns directly with the PSNI."
