We must call upon our government to end arms trade with Israel

G4S, the British-Danish security conglomerate, has announced that it will sell its Israeli subsidiary, responsible for providing security equipment, control rooms, and surveillance devices for Israeli prisons, checkpoints, police training centres, and military compounds that play a critical role in the imprisonment, oppression. and colonisation of Palestine and the Palestinian people.

The announcement is a clear recognition of the growing strength and power of the international BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement targeting G4S in response to calls from Palestinian prisoners and civil society organisations.

This announcement comes following the loss of millions of dollars through boycotts — including contracts in Colombia and Jordan in recent weeks alone — and divestments, including that of the Gates Foundation’s $170m stake in the company, after sustained international BDS campaigns highlighting G4S’ role in the incarceration, torture, and oppression of Palestinians.