British protesters to stage protests against Puma stores to demand end to sponsorship of Israeli FA

The brand is up against a growing boycott movement over its deal with the IFA, which includes six illegal Israeli settlement teams, reported by Morning Star.

Campaigners have accused Puma of complicity in Israel’s apartheid regime by allowing its brand to “sportwash” Israeli crimes.

Over 200 Palestinian sports teams recently wrote to Puma asking them to stop endorsing Israeli apartheid.

Tomorrow’s protests will round off a week of action by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), including a lobbying session and student protests.

PSC said that more than 1,000 people lobbied their MPs on Thursday, urging their representatives in Parliament to address a series of recent reports branding Israel an apartheid state, and take action by calling for a two-way arms embargo.

Today, hundreds of students marched through London, stopping at universities to demand that they divest from firms involved in the occupation of Palestine.

Research by the group found that British universities invest £450 million in companies that supply and finance the Israeli military and illegal settlement economy.

It comes after hundreds of thousands of people turned out in May to condemn Israel’s recent violence against Palestinians, which saw 257 Gazan’s killed and more than 100,000 displaced.

PSC director Ben Jamal stressed that the movement must use the protests to “reinforce our demands for an end to the complicity of our government.”

“These campaigns will not stop until Palestinians are able to live in freedom, and with justice and equality.”

Protesters are planning to stage a large demo outside Puma’s Manchester office tomorrow before marching to Picadilly Gardens.