PROTESTS were held in Manchester today to once again demand Puma cut all ties with the Israeli Football Association.

On International Women’s Day, a clear message was sent to the sports clothing brand on the same day that they launched their “She Moves Us” campaign.

Puma’s marketing campaign to “celebrate the women who have moved culture and sports forward” has been called into question as they still sponsor the IFA.

Israel continues to prevent Palestinian women from travelling to matches and women in sport around the world have spoken out to raise awareness of the ongoing vile treatment women suffer in Palestine.

Stephanie Adam from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a campaign within the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement said: “Palestinian women in sports are not standing by as Puma uses gender equality for marketing purposes while supporting Israel’s apartheid regime. 

“Puma says it wants to celebrate women who move ‘sports forward.’ Palestinian women are doing just that, despite decades of Israeli oppression whitewashed by international brands like Puma. 

“Palestinian athletes are joined by women in sports around the world on International Women’s Day to say justice is a feminist issue. Israel’s military occupation separates Palestinian families, demolishes Palestinian homes and traumatises Palestinian children with arrests and torture. 

“Armed Israeli soldiers raid Palestinian pitches, fighter jets bomb Palestinian stadiums, snipers end Palestinian athletes’ careers and military checkpoints block Palestinian travel for training and matches. 

“Puma can’t promote gender equality for some women while supporting the oppression of millions of Palestinian women. #SheBoycotts will continue until Puma supports full equality by ending its sponsorship of Israeli apartheid.”

The protest is also being used as a day to celebrate Palestinian women in sport.

A protester who will remain anonymous said: “Today on International Women’s Day we are saluting the women of Palestine. We celebrate their resilience. We ask people to boycott Puma, who through their support of the Israeli Football Association are complicit in oppressing the sportswomen of Palestine.

“Despite everything, these sportswomen are pursuing their dreams. Puma should support them, not Israel. We stand with Palestinian women. Boycott Puma. Free Palestine.”

A statement on the BDS website outlines the contradictory nature of Puma’s campaign.

“She Moves Us, but Puma supports illegal Israeli settlements forcing Palestinian women and their families from their homes. She Moves Us, but Puma supports Israel’s military occupation preventing Palestinian women athletes from traveling to matches. She Moves Us, but Puma supports Israeli apartheid, including medical apartheid denying millions of Palestinians vaccines during a pandemic.”