Boycotts are peaceful protesting by withdrawing support from a company or organization. It is a relatively safe and easy option for those who want to make a change in their communities without resorting to violence.

The Middle Eastern country, Israel, from as early as 1948 has consistently denied Palestinians fundamental rights and has arguably refused to comply with international law. Israel upholds an authoritarian government of settler colonialism over the people of Palestine.

International law recognizes the West Bank, which includes East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the Syrian Golan Heights, as land occupied by Israel. Recently, Israel has followed through with a siege on Gaza, one that has turned into the largest open-air prison in the world. In addition, Israel regularly carries out large-scale assaults on Gaza, widely considered crimes against humanity.

The BDS, a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice, and equality, explains, “Israel is only able to maintain its regime of occupation, colonization and apartheid over the Palestinian people because of international complicity. Corporations play a key role in this.”

For the biggest impact, the BDS has created four categories of boycotts: Consumer, divestment and exclusion, pressure, and organic.

Brands under the consumer category have a proven record of support towards the Israeli government. The divestment category strives to exert pressure on governments, institutions, and investment funds to abstain from procuring contracts and investments and to divest, as appropriate, from as many complicit companies as possible.

The BDS urges pressure campaigns, including boycotts, lobbying, peaceful disruptions, and social media pressure, against targets under the pressure category where reasonable alternatives exist. Lastly, the organic category includes boycotts that the BDS did not initiate but encouraged due to the complicity these brands have in Israel’s genocide.

“The BDS movement uses the historically successful method of targeted boycotts inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the US Civil Rights movement, the Indian anti-colonial struggle, among others worldwide,” says the BDS website about their reasoning behind their brand choices.

By boycotting products from companies that are complicit in oppressing Palestinians, you can make your voice heard and ensure that your money is not funding such oppression. For more information, the BDS urges you to check with your local protest organizations to see how you can make a difference.