London BDS Walk encourages Brits to take part in Israel boycott movement

Pro-Palestine activists braved the rain to walk through London on Saturday and encouraged Britons to take part in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The movement is a Palestinian-led campaign that uses boycotts to push Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory such as the West Bank, in addition to Syria's Golan Heights.

British group Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) organised the third annual BDS Walk, calling it an "amazing display of solidarity" in a press release.

"The 2023 BDS Walk is a powerful reminder that boycotts are legitimate, powerful methods to stand up against Israeli injustice and bring about change," said FOA's head of public affairs, Shamiul Joarder.

"Like with apartheid South Africa, boycotts have long been an effective way to stand up against oppression."

BDS walkers waved Palestinian flags as they participated in Saturday's action.

They travelled along a route that strategically passed by important landmarks in the British capital, with FOA saying this sent a "powerful message of solidarity from London to Palestine".

It comes as the BDS movement is under fire in the UK.

The British government has brought forward legislation to prevent public bodies, such as councils and universities, from implementing economic measures targeting Israel.

Though its aim is to hamper BDS campaigns, the controversial bill – which is yet to become law – would also apply to public bodies carrying out their own boycotts of other countries.