Dorset and BCP Constituents Demand Divestment from Companies Complicit in the Gaza Genocide and Human Rights Violations in Palestine
On Tuesday, a well-attended deputation of Dorset constituents delivered a clear and urgent message to the Dorset Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS): end the £173 million investment in companies complicit in genocide in Gaza and in ongoing human rights violations, including apartheid in Occupied Palestine.
Members of the Dorset community, including pension holders and campaigners from Dorset Divestment, PSC (Palestine Solidarity Campaign), and PSM (Palestine Solidarity Movement), gathered to express their deep concern over the use of public pension funds to support and profit from the systemic oppression and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians.
The campaign outlined two core demands:
* 1. For Dorset Council to Commit to divesting its Pension Scheme fund from companies complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza and violations of international law and human rights. Including arms companies supplying Israel and those complicit in Israel’s unlawful military occupation of Palestinian land.
* 2. To end procurement contracts with companies complicit in Israel’s attacks, such as Barclays.
Lisa-Jameela Musleh, a spokesperson for the campaign, said
“The public do not support occupation, segregation, apartheid, or the mass slaughter of men, women, and children. The council has claimed to continue its policy of divestment from companies named by the UN, but from both divestment disclosures and FOI requests, we can see even this is not true. Councillors have refused to meet with us in a meaningful way, instead offering empty promises and avoiding any direct action to take responsibility for these illegal investments. We are willing to enter constructive dialogue with councillors and pension holders to come to a realistic outcome, but as of yet only a handful have reached out to us in a meaningful way. We hope that councillors will reconsider their approach, but we are clear that we will not give up the call for divestment under any circumstances. We have thousands of signatures already, a large and growing movement, and a complete commitment to the well-being of people all over the globe, including Palestine.”
To date, 12 local councils across the UK have already recognised that investments in human rights abuses are not only unethical but also financially unsound in the long term.
While the Dorset Pension Committee did not vote to divest at this week’s meeting, campaigners remain confident that change is coming. Public pressure is mounting, and activists, constituents, and pension members will continue to hold the council accountable and push for full divestment.
It has now been disclosed that the IDF forces in Israel were instructed to open fire on Palestinian civilians queuing for food and water.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz interviewed IDF soldiers who ADMITTED they were given orders to shoot unarmed Palestinians who were trying to collect food at GHF distribution sites.
— ADAM (@AdameMedia) June 27, 2025
Read that again.
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