What is the BDS Movement?

The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement is a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality of the Palestinian people.
BDS is a non-violent global movement, inspired by the South African anti-apartheid struggle, and created in the spirit of international solidarity, moral consistency, resistance to injustice, and the rejection of all forms of racism and racial discrimination.

The BDS movement upholds the simple principle that Palestinian people are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity.

The BDS Movement was launched in 2005 as 170 Palestinian civil society organisations called upon international civil society organisations and people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts, implement divestment initiatives, and appeal to their respective states to impose embargoes and sanctions against Israel. This call came in light of Israel’s persistent violations of international law and the failure of international intervention.

The BDS Movement has three aims:

Ending Israeli occupation and colonisation of all Arab lands and dismantling the Israeli apartheid wall.
Recognising the fundamental rights of Palestinian people with Israeli citizenship to full equality.
Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.

Read more information about the aims of BDS Movement here.

Boycotts, Divestments & Sanctions

Boycotts

Boycotts are an individual or organisational decision not to purchase products or services. Boycott campaigns are a critical element of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, and a significant step towards tackling corporate complicity with Israel’s genocidal regime.

Participating in boycott campaigns involves withdrawing support from Israel’s apartheid regime, complicit Israeli or international cultural, academic, and sporting institutions, and all Israeli and international companies engaged in violations of Palestinian human rights.

Divestment

Divestment calls on organisations to divest in shares of any company that is profiting from Israel’s occupation. Divestment campaigns harness people power to pressure corporations to cut ties with complicit companies that support the Israeli regime. This includes super funds, banks, and the government.

Divestment is a powerful tool for justice. When institutions divest from complicit investments, millions, if not billions, of dollars are withdrawn from companies that prop up Israel’s illegal occupation, apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people.

Sanctions

Sanctions are measures not involving the use of armed force taken by governments to uphold their obligations under international law. Sanctions target the responsible State with the aim of compelling it to abide by international law by ceasing its violations and making reparations.

Sanctions campaigns pressure governments to fulfil their international legal obligations to end Israeli apartheid and the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people, not aid or assist its maintenance by banning business with illegal Israeli settlements, ending military trade and free-trade agreements, as well as suspending Israel’s membership in international forums such as UN bodies.

Targets of the BDS Movement

What does the BDS Movement target?

The BDS movement uses the historically successful method of targeted boycotts, inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the US Civil Rights movement, and the Indian and Irish anti-colonial struggles, among others worldwide.

Corporations that are implicated in the commission of international crimes connected to Israel’s illegal occupation and settlement of Palestine, racial segregation and apartheid regime, and the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, are all complicit and must be held accountable. Direct complicity includes military, logistical, intelligence, financial, and infrastructure support.

The BDS movement focuses on utilising economic measures to create pressure on Israeli regime through collective global action. Any organisation that receives support or profits from the current oppressive systems of the Israeli regime may be identified as a target for boycotts or divestment.

Targets of the BDS Movement are chosen based on four key criteria

Level of complicity: based on accurate research that proves complicity
Intersectionality: cross-movement relevance of the target
Brand recognition and media appeal: helps reach a wider audience
Potential for success