Councillor Shaun Harkin commends O'Neill's' removal of Puma items from Derry store

Derry Councillor Shaun Harkin called for more grassroots mobilisation following Derry IPSC's second success in getting a local store to pull goods from companies that profit from Israel's occupation of Palestine.

Sports clothing company O'Neill's has agreed to remove Puma products from its Derry store. Home Bargains has also previously agreed to pull Israeli goods from its Derry store.

"Puma is a major global corporation complicit in apartheid and a strategic target of the BDS campaign," the People Before Profit councillor said.

O'Neill's agree to remove Puma items from Derry store

The clothing company stocks Puma products which sponsors the Israel Football Association

"We have long called for O'Neill's to stop stocking the Puma brand at all their stores. 

"In response to a planned IPSC protest, the Derry O'Neill's store has made the decision to remove Puma items. 

"We welcome this decision and commend all the workers for standing with Palestine and against an inhumane onslaught.

"We urge more workers to do the same. 

"Let's spread the boycott of Puma and other corporations complicit with Israel's crimes to every corner of Ireland just as we did to end apartheid in South Africa.

"Grassroots people power is the key to forcing an end to Israel's genocidal slaughter. 

"We need to build up pressure on all companies to remove Israeli brands. We urge the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to defend all workers refusing to handle apartheid Israeli products. We demand the Irish government expel the Israeli ambassador immediately."

Puma is the main sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which includes teams in Israel’s illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land, according to the BDS movement's website.

In addition, Puma’s current and past exclusive licensees in Israel have operations in illegal Israeli settlements.

More than 200 Palestinian sports clubs have called on Puma to end the sponsorship deal and stop supporting Israel’s illegal land grabs.

In July 2018 it was announced that Adidas was no longer sponsoring the IFA following an international campaign and the delivery of over 16,000 signatures to Adidas headquarters.

Cllr Harkin said there has been no let up in Israel's siege on Gaza in the last month.

"Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza is not relenting. The IDF has killed more than 11,000 people there since October 7, including 4,500 children.

"The US, Britain and the EU to their everlasting shame have endorsed this slaughter, defended it and funded it.

"Ordinary people across the world are responding to the barbarism they are witnessing by mobilising in unprecedented numbers to demand an end to it.

"Palestinians have called for those opposed to what Israel is doing to step up the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanction against Israel."