Hackney Council gets a bloody wake-up call over its investments in genocide

Palestine Action has welcomed action by an anonymous group of people against Labour Party-run Hackney Council. It is over the council’s complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Hackney Council: BDS now – or else

After years of local campaigning to get Hackney Council to drop their investments in genocide, anonymous activists have escalated the situation and covered Hackney Town Hall in blood-red paint:

The local authority invests tens of millions in companies arming Israel, including Israel’s biggest weapons firm Elbit Systems. Elbit are up to their necks in Palestinian blood, producing weapons, in this country, which have been central to the genocide in Gaza, including the engines used in Israel’s killer drone fleet.

A statement issued by the activists reads:

For years, local campaigners have been opposing Hackney Council’s investments in Israel’s occupation of Palestine. In the wake of the genocide, three neighbouring boroughs have moved to divest from complicit companies. Yet Hackney remains committed to its exposure, totaling tens of millions invested in arms manufacturers directly supplying the Israeli military in its genocidal crimes, companies illegally operating in the West Bank, and companies supplying services that perpetuate the crime of apartheid.

Divestment is possible!

Despite their refusal, so far, to budge on divestment from genocide, and a consistent pro-Israel bias, Hackney Council have shown a propensity for decorating, previously labelling ‘Free Palestine’ graffiti “anti-Semitic”, and hastily having it painted over. Now they have a whole Town Hall to re-decorate.

On Thursday 20 February there is also set to be a protest over the council’s investment policies:

The monthly Pensions Committee meeting is this Thursday. Please join the PSC rally in front of Hackney Town Hall. The Council is investing in companies who arm Israel such as Elbit, Raheton, BA Systems. You are also welcome to join us inside.

Solidarity ❤️🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/G1T6B0EhU6

— Chiara Lauvergnac (@Lauvergnac) February 19, 2025

Palestine Action says…

A Palestine Action spokesperson said:

Despite the dishonest reporting of the BBC, and much of the mainstream media, most people in this country are opposed to the murder of Palestinians by the Israeli regime, and to British participation in it. Hackney Council are profiting from the slaughter, by investing in Israeli arms companies like Elbit.

The campaign against all those who facilitate and profit from the production of Israeli weapons is growing, and Hackney Council will be better off if they listen to the local community and divest.

Featured image and video supplied