Stop the bulldozers, Act now: end JCB’s complicity in Israel’s destruction of Palestinian communities
Last Friday, parents with toddlers demonstrated in front of Hamleys London flagship toy store to protest the use of JCB equipment in Israel’s crimes against Palestinian children and communities — particularly the ongoing and imminent destruction of dozens of Palestinian family homes in occupied Jerusalem.
The world largest toy store is preparing to sell a new range of JCB branded toys for British firm JCB. People supported the protest by phoning JCB to demand that the company end their complicity in Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people. The actions took place to launch the Stop the Bulldozers-campaign of British charity War on Want, aiming to end JCB’s complicity in the violations of Palestinian human rights. War on Want writes in a 1 June press release:
The protestors cite JCB bulldozers’ use to demolish the only Palestinian children’s playground in the district of Silwan in East Jerusalem and JCB equipment’s part in the construction of the illegal Apartheid Wall, Israeli settlements and the demolition of Palestinian homes.more
The charity War on Want wrote to JCB after the playground was demolished. But JCB has failed to respond to its request for the company to investigate the use of JCB equipment in Silwan and ensure that it will not be used in illegal demolitions.
Kat Hobbs, War on Want’s Save Silwan campaigner, said: “JCB is trying to corner the kids’ market with the My First JCB range of toys and clothes. Yet for Palestinian children, their first JCB experience is when a digger is destroying their home and playground. JCB needs to stop its bulldozers being used as weapons against the Palestinian people.”
British foreign office minister Alistair Burt has confirmed the government knew about claims that equipment manufactured by a UK construction equipment company “may have been used in demolitions”. But, despite branding the demolition of the playground “contrary to Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law” the Foreign Office has taken no further action.
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