Hundreds of people have marched along Oxford Street in London calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a boycott of “Israel-linked” brands, as traffic in the busy shopping district was brought to a standstill days before Christmas.
“There can be no Christmas as usual while a genocide is happening,” the organisers and activist group Sisters Uncut wrote on social media on Saturday, calling for the boycott of brands including Puma, HP and Axa.
“When we disrupt the flow of capital we strike at the heart of the brutal occupation. We will continue to shut it down in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” the group said, sharing videos of protesters armed with Palestinian flags and placards beneath Carnaby’s glittering decorations while chanting “shut it down” outside Puma.
Protesters outside two Zara stores chanted “while you’re shopping, bombs are dropping” and “Zara, Zara, you can’t hide, stop supporting genocide” referring to Israel’s retaliatory campaign, which has killed more than 20,000 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry, most of them women and children.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the capital’s streets since the conflict began to call for a permanent ceasefire, putting pressure on the UK government and Labour party, which have both called for a sustainable cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
By Saturday afternoon, as pamphlets were distributed detailing brands to boycott, Oxford Street was trending on X, formerly known as Twitter. One user wrote on the platform: “Zara London Oxford Street shutdown right now. Shut it all down for Palestine. Ceasefire now.” Another user wrote: “No Christmas as usual during a genocide. Oxford Street calling for a #CeasefireNow.”
The action was a day after the UN security council voted for a resolution calling for large-scale delivery of aid to Gaza to contain the imminent threat of famine and deadly epidemics. The resolution put forward by the United Arab Emirates, which did not demand a suspension of hostilities, was supported by all council members except for the US and Russia, which abstained.
Earlier this month high street clothing retailer Zara pulled an advertising campaign after criticism that it resembled destruction in Gaza. The Inditex-owned fast fashion brand has said it regrets a “misunderstanding” about the images which, intent on depicting a sculptor’s studio, were conceived and photographed before the conflict began.
Earlier this month, the hashtag #BoycottZara was trending after social media users flocked to X criticising the images of a mannequin wrapped in white material over the model’s right shoulder, and of damaged statues and broken plasterboard in others.
Zara said the campaign, which it discontinued in the UK, presented “a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context”.
Zara, Puma, HP and Axa have been approached for comment.
