Huge insurance multinational Allianz has been targeted twice in 24 hours by Palestine Action, over its role in facilitating Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Allianz: hit twice by Palestine Action
First, on Sunday 9 March England played against Italy at Allianz’s Twickenham Stadium, in the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. On the 67th minute of the match, a Palestine Action drone appeared above the stadium flying the Palestine flag:
Unlike the Elbit drones, used to kill and maim Palestinians, our drone came in peace, but with a message for stadium owners Allianz, Elbit’s insurers – demanding Allianz stop insuring Elbit.
A Palestine Action spokesperson said:
Without the insurance provided by Allianz, Elbit could not build Israeli weapons in Britain which are tested on Palestinians. The military killer drones made by Elbit come to kill and maim Palestinians, however our drone came with a simple message: Allianz must drop Elbit.
Then, on Monday 10 March Palestine Action targeted the City of London premises of Allianz as part of an ongoing and escalating campaign against the insurance giants:
Palestine Action activists scaled the canopy above the entrance and are currently (as of 10:30am) occupying Allianz Commercial, 60 Gracechurch St, City of London:
They doused the building in red paint to represent the bloodshed of Palestinian people and Allianz’ role in the genocide in Gaza:
This action comes just weeks after a coordinated wave of action struck 15 premises across Europe as Palestine Action continue to target the supply chains of Elbit Systems.
Office windows were smashed and buildings were covered in red paint across Britain, Portugal, Germany, and The Netherlands, with an additional 10 actions taking place in October 2024, including a rooftop occupation of their British head office in Guildford.
Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons producer, provide 85% of Israel’s killer drone fleet and land-based equipment, as well as missiles, munitions and digital warfare. Elbit’s quadcopter drones are routinely used to massacre Palestinians in Gaza. Dr Nazim Mamode recalled in Parliament how such drones are used to commit war crimes in Gaza:
What I found particularly disturbing was that a bomb would drop, maybe on a crowded tented area, and then the drones would come down and pick off civilians, children.
He went on to explain how he routinely operated on children who would say:
I was lying on the ground after a bomb had dropped and this quadcopter came down and hovered over me and shot me
Palestine Action: shutting down Elbit and its supply chain
Elbit’s business model relies on using Palestinians as test-subjects for their latest weaponry, which is often marketed as “battle-tested” as a result. By providing the legally required ’employers liability’ insurance for Elbit to operate in Britain, Allianz is directly facilitating the production of Israeli weapons.
Palestine Action’s direct action campaign is focused on shutting down Israeli weapons factories on British soil and targets those who facilitate the deadly trade, including Elbit’s insurers Allianz. The group has already targeted dozens of Allianz’s offices across Britain and Europe, forcing them to temporarily close on several occasions.
Similar Palestine Action campaigns have resulted in several companies ending their association with Elbit, such as Barclays, lobby firm APCO and shipping giant Kuehne+Nagel.
This latest hit of Allianz follows confirmation that Barclays have withdrawn all shares in Elbit following similar sustained actions from Palestine Action and other groups last year. Reports suggest that the shares were withdrawn shortly after 20 branches were targeted in one night, leaving many of them closed for weeks. In addition to suppliers withdrawing their commercial support for Elbit, Elbit’s own facilities in Britain have been permanently shut down after repeat targeting by Palestine Action, including the closure of their Tamworth factory in 2024.
A spokesperson for Palestine Action said:
By providing insurance, Allianz is directly enabling the production of Israeli weapons in Britain which are “battle-tested” on Palestinians. As all companies who work with Elbit should know by now, Palestine Action’s direct action campaign against them will not cease until their links with the Israeli weapons trade does. Allianz must drop Elbit.
Featured image and additional images via Direct Action Images
