Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters occupied branches of Barclays on Saturday calling for a boycott of the bank over links to Israel.

Activists brandishing banners with the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – which many regard as a call for the destruction of the state of Israel – staged an occupation of the Peckham branch in south London.

Similar protests were being held outside branches in London, Brighton, Derby, Coventry, Ipswich, Leeds and several other towns and cities.

Around 20 activists also held a protest outside the Kensington branch of Barclays, in west London, which is a few hundred metres from the Israeli Embassy.

Several carried banners that read “Barclays blood money”, “ceasefire now” and “stop investing in Israel’s crimes against humanity”.

Chanting over a megaphone the group were heard calling for the bank to “divest now” and claimed the institution had “blood on their hands”.

Motorists passing the protesters on the busy high street honked horns and waved to the crowd in shows of solidarity, as activists shouted “Barclays, Barclays, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” and “Barclays, Israel and UK, how many kids did you kill today.”

Inside the bank’s Kensington branch the main counters were closed but self service ATMs were operating.

At one stage two uniformed police officers walked into the branch and were taken downstairs by the on duty manager to discuss the situation.

Dozens of protesters also entered a branch of the bank in central Manchester, with one standing across the main entrance holding a banner reading “Ceasefire Now” as two police officers looked on.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which is organising the pickets along with other groups, told supporters: “As Israel’s genocidal assault on Palestinians continues, take action on Saturday 27 January 2024 to demand Britain stop arming Israel!

“Barclays bank holds substantial financial ties with arms companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel, used in its attacks on Palestinians.”

Pro-Palestine activists have targeted Barclays since Israel launched its bombing of Gaza in response to the Oct 7 attacks, with calls for a repeat of the boycott of the bank staged by some during the South African apartheid era.

The PSC has stated: “Unfortunately, most high street banks hold financial ties with companies complicit in Israeli apartheid. Our research has identified Barclays as a major financier of companies arming Israel, it is therefore the current target of our campaign.”

Barclays has defended offering banking services to firms in the defence and weapons industry.

A spokesman for the bank said: “Barclays is committed to respecting human rights as defined by the International Bill of Human Rights and takes account of other internationally accepted human rights standards and frameworks.

“We have a published statement on defence and security which sets out our policy positions and governs any business activities in the defence and security sector, including setting restrictions on certain financing activities and requiring enhanced due diligence as appropriate on clients in the sector.

“As a universal bank, Barclays provides a range of client services in relation to the shares of publicly listed companies, including those in the defence and security sector.

“Such client-driven activities may result in Barclays holding shares in those companies, for example, through hedging positions, market making, custody and underwriting activity.

“Barclays does not itself intend to make any direct strategic equity investments in the defence and security sector.”