Pro-Palestinian protesters marched on London’s Oxford Street

TEHRAN, Dec. 23 (MNA) – Pro-Palestinian protesters have marched on London’s Oxford Street urging shoppers to boycott “Israeli-linked” brands.

According to The Guardian, several hundred protesters brought traffic to a standstill as part of the demonstration organized by direct action group Sisters Uncut on Saturday afternoon, PA reports.

They gathered in Soho Square chanting “Free Palestine” before marching on the busy shopping street.

Security guards blocked the entrance to fashion retailer Zara, while dozens of officers followed the march.

Leaflets distributed by Sisters Uncut said: “No Christmas as usual in a genocide. The UK is complicit. Don’t fund genocide in Palestine. Boycott Israel.”

Security guards blocked the entrance to fashion retailer Zara, while dozens of officers followed the march.

Leaflets distributed by Sisters Uncut said: “No Christmas as usual in a genocide. The UK is complicit. Don’t fund genocide in Palestine. Boycott Israel.”

The death toll from Israeli atrocities has exceeded 20,000 Palestinians since October 7, sparking worldwide condemnation and protests.

MNA

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Pro-Palestinian protesters target Zara

stores in London’s West End

Protesters marched in London’s West End in a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday 

(Lucy North/PA)

SAT, 23 DEC, 2023 - 
TED HENNESSEY, PA

Pro-Palestinian protesters targeted fashion giant Zara as they urged Christmas shoppers to boycott “Israeli-linked” brands in London.

Hundreds marched on Oxford Street and Regent Street, busy shopping districts in the capital’s West End, bringing traffic to a standstill on Saturday afternoon.

Some chanted “while you’re shopping, bombs are dropping”, referring to the Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

They stopped outside two Zara stores, both of which had closed and were guarded by security, urging people to boycott the brand.

Protesters during a pro-Palestine demonstration urging Christmas shoppers to boycott what they called ‘pro-Israel’ brands (Lucy North/PA)

Some chanted: “Zara, Zara, you can’t hide, stop supporting genocide”.

Earlier this month, Zara pulled an ad following complaints that it contained pictures resembling images from the Israel-Hamas war.

The campaign, called The Jacket, contained a series of images in which the model was pictured against a background of cracked stones, damaged statues and broken plasterboard.

Zara said the campaign presented “a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craft-made garments in an artistic context”.

However, some viewers suggested they were similar to images emerging from Gaza.

The company said it regretted a “misunderstanding” about the pictures, after some customers “saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created”.

The demonstration was organised by direct action group Sisters Uncut (Lucy North/PA)

Saturday’s demonstration, organised by direct action group Sisters Uncut, began in Soho Square, where protesters chanted “free Palestine”.

Protesters waved Palestinian flags, played music and let off coloured smoke.

Leaflets distributed by the group said: “No Christmas as usual in a genocide. The UK is complicit.

“Don’t fund genocide in Palestine. Boycott Israel.”