LONDON — On Monday, a group of demonstrators advocating for Palestinian rights called upon Wimbledon to sever its sponsorship ties with Barclays due to the bank’s association with businesses engaged with Israel.
Around 24 activists from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign gathered at the main entrance of the All England Club, while large crowds of tennis enthusiasts flocked to attend the first day of the tournament. The protesters carried banners and voiced their objections to Barclays’ sponsorship of the event.
Khalid Zalmay, a protester at the scene, emphasized the issue by stating, “Barclays is associated with the arms companies that provide weaponry to Israel. We shouldn’t be supplying Israel with weapons or letting anyone facilitate such actions. The same way that ties with Russia were cut, I believe ties need to be cut with Israel.”
One demonstrator prominently displayed a placard labeling Barclays as a “sponsor of Wimbledon and genocide,” drawing connections between the bank’s sponsorship role and military actions.
The unrest links back to the recent conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, when militants led by Hamas were responsible for the deaths of about 1,200 individuals, the majority being civilians, while also resulting in the abduction of 251 people, escalating the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In retaliation, Israel’s military activities have led to the death of an estimated 56,000 Palestinians, as cited by the Health Ministry. This figure includes both civilians and combatants, with reports noting that more than half of those deceased are women and children.
Despite repeated calls for comment, Wimbledon has yet to issue a public response to the protests or demands.
Barclays, on their part, has remained steadfast in their position, expressing pride in their collaboration with Wimbledon and defending their operational practices. Their statement mentioned, “We offer a variety of financial services and products to companies that supply defense items to the UK, NATO, and allied nations. In light of increasing geopolitical threats, enhancing defense capabilities is paramount for NATO, the EU, and the UK, making the supply of financial services and products to the defense sector crucial.”