Barclays suspends sponsorship of British festivals after strong reaction to Israel links

Other high-profile festivals affected include the Isle of Wight Festival later this month – with Green Day, The Pet Shop Boys and The Prodigy headlining – and the Latitude Festival in July.

Barclaycard’s branding reportedly disappeared from the event websites on Friday.

Previously, there had been protests and boycott threats from bands and fans against Barclays’s links to arms companies that supply Israel. The allegations culminated in the accusation that the bank was “complicit in the genocide in the Gaza Strip”.

Several bands, including crossover thrash metal band Pest Control, had already announced that they would pull out of Download and instead hold a benefit concert for Palestinians.

Live Nation simply said: “After discussions with the artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will withdraw from sponsoring our festivals.”

A Barclays spokesman confirmed the move, saying the bank had “been asked and agreed to suspend participation in the remaining Live Nation festivals in 2024.”

“The protesters’ intention is to get Barclays to debank arms companies. We remain committed to this sector as it makes a vital contribution to the security of this country and our allies,” the statement continued.

It pointed out that there had been repeated instances of vandalism and intimidation at Barclays Bank branches, with pro-Palestinian activists claiming responsibility for these.

“The only thing this small group of activists will achieve is to undermine the fundamental support for cultural events enjoyed by millions of people,” the Barclays spokesman added.

“It is time for leading figures from politics, business, science and the arts to come together to oppose this.”

Bands Boycott Barclays, a group of musicians and industry experts that has led the backlash, welcomed the suspension.

It called the move “a historic victory for the Palestinian-led global BDS movement,” referring to the “boycott, divestment and sanctions strategy” favored by some activists.

It was founded in 2005 by Palestinian civil society organizations and advocates political and economic action against Israel because of its treatment of the Palestinians.

Israel and its main supporter, the United States, regularly accuse the movement of anti-Semitism.

The Gaza war began after Hamas’ unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, which left 1,194 people, mostly civilians, dead, according to an AFP news agency count based on official Israeli figures.

The militants also took 251 hostages. Of these, 116 are still in Gaza, but the army says 41 people are dead.

According to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-ruled territory, at least 37,266 people, again mostly civilians, were killed in Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza.

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