PRO-PALESTINE activists blocked Cisco’s float as it took part in Saturday’s London Pride parade because of the US-based tech firm’s links with the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Youth Demand supporters threw red paint over the Cisco truck before sitting in the road and glueing themselves to it, chanting: “We charge you with genocide.”

The parade, watched by more than 30,000 people, was delayed for about an hour while the protesters were removed, with five arrests taking place.

Youth Demand said on social media: “Technology corporation Cisco has a long-standing partnership with the Israeli military and enables the mass murder of Palestinians through advanced military communication networks facilitated by its Unified Communications systems.

“They have willingly supplied their technology to strengthen Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza and have NO place at London Pride.

“They are not only complicit in war crimes but are actively enabling military communications in an apartheid state.

“We demand a total trade embargo on Israel and an end to the pink-washing of complicit corporations.”

Speaking before taking part in the action, student Reya Wood from Swansea said: “I am taking action against Cisco at London Pride to highlight the company’s complicity in genocide and how they are hiding their crimes behind a veil of pink washing.

“As a queer woman, this action is particularly meaningful to me. I refuse to stand aside and allow my queer identity to be exploited for commercial gain at the hands of war criminals.”

Fellow activist Monday-Malachi Rosenfeld, a student from London, said: “I’m taking action because queer liberation and Palestinian liberation go hand in hand and we cannot have one without the other.

“There can be no celebration or joy when companies like Cisco are supplying technology that is helping Israel to slaughter, displace and starve queer Palestinians, their families and tens of thousands of others in Gaza.

“London Pride has no business accepting sponsorship from companies profiting from genocide who pretend to care about queer people.

“The UK government needs to impose a total trade embargo on Israel and prosecute Cisco for enabling genocide.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that five people were arrested.

Youth Demand said that it stands “unequivocally” with activist group Palestine Action after the High Court upheld last week’s proscription under the Terrorism Act.

Cisco was contacted for comment.