Palestine activists deface TEN buildings as offices vandalised with red paint
Reuters
Ten UK offices of the German financial services firm Allianz have been targeted
Pro-Palestine activists have targeted UK offices of the German financial services firm Allianz, throwing paint at buildings and smashing windows.
The insurance firm has been chosen due to its alleged links to Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems, with the phrase "Allianz Drop Elbit' scrawled on the walls.
Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the attack claiming they targeted 10 Allianz buildings in total, including their UK headquarters in Guildford, Surrey.
Writing online, the group said: "Ten Allianz offices targeted today to make it clear that Palestine Action will cost more than you gain from enabling genocide. Allianz, it’s time to stop insuring and investing in Israeli weapons firm, Elbit Systems."
Palestine activists targeted Allianz buildings
ReutersSites in Manchester, Lancaster, Belfast, two in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Milton Keynes were targeted, whilst the head office in Guilford has been "occupied" over night.
The vandalism coincides with the first anniversary of the start of the Gaza war, triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 last year.
Palestine Action has said the firm is one of Elbit System’s "principle institutional shareholders".
The company manufactures over 85 per cent of Israel’s drones, including quadcopters used by the nation's military to perform targeted attacks.
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People walk near an office building occupied by a unit of Allianz, which was covered in red paint
Reuters
The protest group added: "Elbit has publicly advertised its weaponry as being 'battle-tested' on Palestinians. Its business operations are central to Israeli war crimes in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, and its technologies uphold the brutal occupation regime.
"These nationwide actions serve as a reminder that, throughout the past twelve months, Western capital has continued to profit from the mass murder of Palestinians.
Palestine Action added: "If Allianz refuses to understand that dealing with Elbit is immoral, it must be made clear that maintaining its involvement will become increasingly unprofitable."
It is the latest financial company to face backlash for alleged ties to Israel, with Barclays regularly coming under the firing line.
The vandalism coincides with the first anniversary of the start of the Gaza war
Reuters
It is the latest financial company to face backlash for alleged ties to Israel
Reuters
The bank has faced criticism for providing financial services to defense firms that allegedly produce equipment used by the IDF, allegations it has repeatedly denied.