Palestine Action claims to abduct sculpture of Israeli president from University of Manchester

Palestine Action claimed on Saturday that members of the pro-Palestinian group abducted a statue of former Israeli President Chaim Weizmann from the University of Manchester.

BREAKING: Palestine Action abduct sculptures of Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann, from the University of Manchester.Weizmann secured the Balfour Declaration, a British pledge written 107 years ago, which began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by signing the land away. pic.twitter.com/a8urQciod5

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) November 2, 2024

"Weizmann secured the Balfour Declaration, a British pledge written 107 years ago, which began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by signing the land away," the group claimed, sharing footage of the theft on X/Twitter.

The group claimed on their website to have taken the sculpture to mark the signing of the Balfour Declaration, now 107 years ago.

Palestine Action has repeatedly targeted businesses, like Barclays and JP Morgan, and universities which it accuses of being financially involved in Israel's war against Hamas. Activists from the group have appeared before the court for vandalizing or blocking access to the Elbeit arms factory in Britain. 

The Israel-Hamas war

The group claimed that after signing the declaration, British soldiers "British soldiers killed, arrested and raped Palestinians" until the establishment of the state of Israel - which they describe as a "Nakba" (catastrophe.)

The group said that the groundwork laid by Weizmann has allowed Israel to carry out a "genocide" today.

"For over a year, Palestinians in Gaza have been subject to daily bombings, the slaughter of their families and destruction of their homes, hospitals, schools and civil infrastructure. Israel’s bombing campaign has extended to targeting densely populated areas of civilians in Lebanon. From the Balfour Declaration to today, the UK remains an active participant in the colonisation, genocide and occupation of Palestine," the group wrote. 

The war in Gaza, against the Hamas terror group ruling the enclave, began after terrorists invaded southern Israel and murdered some 1200 people. During the massacre, terrorists abducted over 250 people - over 100 of whom remain captive.