CAMPAIGNERS accused Barclays today of “shamefully profiting from genocide” after new research revealed that the bank has substantially boosted its investments in the Israel arms trade in the last two years.

The research, conducted by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and War on Want, found that the bank now holds over £2 billion in shares and provides £6.1bn in loans and underwriting to nine companies known to be producing weapons and military technology used by Israel.

The new research also found that Barclays now holds £2.7 million of shares in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, more than doubling its holding since 2022.