In October we follow up on the results of the recognitions of Palestine. Also the Global Sumud Flotilla and some prominent BDS actions in sports and finance are to be expected. The UEFA seems not to be willing to vote on the exclusion of Israel, as well as the EBU does not want to vote on the exclusion of Israel from the Eurovision Contest.
1 October: Amnesty International has demanded from the UEFA and the FIFA that it excludes Israel from their championships over its violations of FIFA and UEFA statutes.
1 October: Dutch Pension Fund divested 65mio. from Bookings.com and 368mio. from Caterpillar
1 October: After the very prominent German comedian Jan Böhmerman cancelled a concert of the German rapper Chefket because he wore a T-Shirt with Palestine, all other music acts cancelled their concerts in solidarity with Chefket.
1 October: In reaction to the interception of the Sumud Flotilla to Gaza, the train station of Berlin was saw protests.
1 October: Protests in the French part of Switzerland over the abduction of participants of the Sumud Flotilla to Gaza.
2 October: A National Councillor for Switzerland has started an initiative to recognize Palestine
- 2 October: KFC closes another 19 branches in Indonesia after it has already closed over 40 in December 2024. It is strongly believed that due to the Israel boycott it is losing customers to Almaz Fried Chicken established in June 2024, which donates 5% of its revenue to Palestine.
3 October: 30 human rights scholars demand from the UEFA that it bans Israel over its war in Gaza.
3 October: The Catalan Parliament was suspended for the day in reaction of the capture of his deputy by Israel. The Catalan Minister of the exterior and the EU Jaume Duch accused Israel to have breached international law.
4 October: Cycling team Israel Premier Tech withdraws from three Italian races after having been excluded from the Tour in Reggio Emilia.
4 October: Films withdraw from the Film Festival in Sderot.
4 October: Fans of the Spanish football club Osasuna demanded the exclusion of Israel from the UEFA and the FIFA over Palestine.
5 October: Athletic Bilbao honoured Palestinian refugees at the game of the La Liga. Of course this was hardly mentioned in the western media, which is why an instagram post is linked.
5 October: French Deputies that were abducted by Israel from the Sumud Flotilla are in hunger strike.
5 October: 250’000 people mostly dressed in red protest for Palestine in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The “Red Line” march was in response to the capture of humanitarian aid by the Israeli army.
5 October: 9 Swiss participants of the Sumud Flotilla arrive in Geneva after having been arrested for a few days by Israel. The former mayor of Geneva remains in Israeli detention.
5 October: UK Police to receive additional powers over Palestine protests didn’t stop after some people called for the protests to stop after two people died during an attack on a synagogue in Manchester.
5 October: Robbie Williams of Take That had his concert in Istanbul cancelled over pressure from pro-Palestinian groups. He had played twice in Israel in the past, 2015 and also 2023. His wife is of Turkish-Jewish origin and raises their children in a Jewish tradition, and Williams seems to have a strong Turkish bond.
5 October: The UNAM of Mexico demanded the release of its student Arlin Gabriela Medrano who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla.
6 October: The Cycling Team Israel Premier Tech changes its name and logo after sponsors of the team demanded it.
7 October: 6 Israeli companies to be barred from the biennial Dubai Airshow to be held in November.
7 October: Nordic countries to convene in Iceland and decide of the approach towards Israel.
8 October: Israel intercepts another Flotilla towards Gaza in violation of International law. Israel says that it wants to deport the members of the Flotilla swiftly.
9 October: Israel Premier Tech not to run Giro di Lombardia
10 October: Indonesia denies Israeli athletes visas to compete in the Gymnastics World Championship to take place in this October. It says it will issue visas if Israel recognises Palestine and then Indonesia will recognise Israel as well. The World Body of Gymnasts seems to support the visa ban.
10 October: The Kempinski Hotel withdrew its sponsorship of the Jewish Film Festival in Accra, Ghana.
11 October: Large pro-Palestinian protest happened in Bern, Switzerland. There are many casualties reported.
11 October: Ca. 500’000 people demonstrated for Palestine in London.
11 October: Norway defeated Israel in the qualifications for the Football World Cup. The proceed of the game in Oslo, Norway will be donated to the Doctors Without Borders. A large Palestine flag was unfurled in the stadium and ahead of the game protesters gathered in front of the Norwegian Parliament in Palestine Jerseys.
13 October: Austria considers backing out from hosting the ESC if Israel is banned from taking part. This would cost Austria a ca. 40 Mio. $ fine.
13 October: The EBU has cancelled a vote on whether Israel is to take part in the ESC scheduled for November citing developments in the Middle East. Its alleged that it means the announced ceasefire.
14 October: Morrissey’s concert was cancelled in Turkey due to his support for Israel.
16 October: Dem. Candidate Seth Moulton for Massachusetts rejects AIPAC donations as he claims that AIPAC is too close aligned with the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
16 October: Istanbul declared itself the sister city of Gaza city.
16 October: No Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans permitted at the Europe League match against British Aston Villa. We assume that this was a compromise as its fans are very well known for their really racist and anti Arab slogans for which the UEFA is not fining the Maccabi fans.
17 October: Palestine Action wins right to challenge ban in the UK.
17 October: AirBnB charged in France by human rights group over Israeli settlements in Palestine listings.
17 October: The Oscar winning film No Other Land rejects a deal with the streaming company MUBI over its relations with Sequoia and will self release the film on a variety of steaming vehicles.
17 October: A Jewish Film Festival in Sweden has been cancelled because no venue wanted to receive them for fears of protests.
22 October: The ICJ orders Israel to permit the flow of humanitarian aid by UN agencies and prohibits the use of hunger as a weapon of war.
22 October: 450 prominent Jewish and Israeli figures across the globe urge the UN and world leaders to sanction Israel.
23 October: The Washington based jewish-Israeli vegan kosher chain Shouk closed after a boycott campaign.
24 October: The Dundee firefighters request the return of a firefighter vehicle meant to be delivered to the firefighters in Nablus, Palestine. It was retained by the Israeli port authority in Ashdod for over a year. Dundee is the twin city of Nablus and the Dundee firefighters have established a strong bond with the firefighters of Nablus.
25 October: Catherine Connolly won the presidency of Ireland. She was one of the leading pro-Palestine voices in the Irish parliament.
26 October: The Israeli steel firm went bankrupt following the Turkish ban on trade with Israel. The firm exported 70% to Turkey.
26 October: Thom Yorke of Radiohead announced that he would absolutely not play in Israel, but reckoned that John Greenwood had extended family there. Before there were demands of boycotts of Radiohead after it had performed in Israel. This year, Thom Yorke was heckled by a concert goer.
27 October: Israeli Filmmakers sponsored by the Israeli state were not accredited by a Filmfestival in Amsterdam. They were offered private accreditation but not as representatives of a state sponsored institution.
28 October: Over 300 prominent writers will boycott the New York Times over their pro-Israel biased coverage.