Barclays branches across the country have been drenched in red paint and some its windows smashed as part of protest from a pro-Palestine group.

According to the group Palestine Action, it has targeted 20 of Barclays' banks in England and Scotland - including its branch in George Street Richmond yesterday (10 June).

Via Instagram, the protest group said: "The bank invests in Israel's largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems — our primary target.

"Shut the System is a new group aimed at fighting the climate crisis, targeting the bank over its fossil fuel investments.

"This collaboration has made our campaign against the bank more effective and left Barclays shattered.

"We won't rest until Barclays divests."

The Barclays branch in George Street, Richmond was covered in red paint and had its window smashed yesterday (credit: Alistair Parkes).

A spokesperson for Barclays told BBC: "While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property."

It also said that the bank "provides vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies".

"The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK government has been clear that supporting defence companies is compatible with ESG considerations," the spokesperson continued.

"Decisions on the implementation of arms embargos to other nations are the job of respective elected governments."

According to Israel, during 7 October 2023 attacks in southern Israel, Hamas killed around 1,200 people and took some 251 hostages.

Israel say some 116 remain in the Palestinian territory, including 41 that have now dead

On Saturday, the Hamas-run health ministry said the death toll in Gaza stood at 37,084 people.

This comes as the UN Security Council voted in support of a US ceasefire plan for the war between Israel and Gaza.

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