Opinion
04 Nov 25

Palestine Action Éire target Allianz Insurance offices

Members of Palestine Action Éire outside the Allianz building on Merrion Road.

Gardaí have confirmed the attack took place this morning at approximately 2:50am.

Members of Palestine Action Éire have taken responsibility for smashing glass walls and windows of Allianz's Merrion Road location in Dublin early this morning.

The German-owned company is a leading insurer in Ireland. Allianz has previously invested in Israeli shares and bonds, which the UN’s Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, claimed are “implicated in the occupation and genocide”.

The company has previously been criticised for their alleged association with Israeli defense contractor Elbit. This incident comes as one of many incited defacements on Allianz' headquarters worldwide, with actions taking place simultaneously on November 1, across the UK, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Taiwan.

On a post to social media, the activists stated that Allianz's alleged relationship with Elbit motivated their actions. Palestine Action Éire posted a video of people dressed in black balaclavas, smashing the glass windows and doors of the building, writing "Drop Elbit" in red spray paint.

"The German Company is the sole insurer of Elbit Systems, Israel's most important weapons manufacturer," wrote the group. "They make the operations of Elbit possible. It seems they did not change much from their Nazi past, they just love making profits from war crimes and genocide."

"Just like the GAA we wanted to do something about Allianz' impunity, so we took a hurl to their glass! Palestine Action Éire refuses to stand by as our island makes genocide possible," they continued. "Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) collaborators out of Ireland!"

800 past and present GAA members signed an open letter this past August, calling on the GAA to end its sponsorship with Allianz. The National League has been sponsored by Allianz since 1993, and is contracted to continue until 2030.

In a statement to The Journal, a spokesperson from Allianz addressed the attack.

"A group of people in balaclavas and black combat style clothing and armed with a variety of implements attempted to gain entry to the building by smashing windows and doors," they said.

“Allianz employees and contractors in the building at the time alerted Gardaí and secured themselves in a safe location in the building as part of our security procedures.

“Our first priority is for the safety and wellbeing of our employees and contractors, particularly those who were in the building when this attack occurred. We are working with them to ensure they are getting our fullest support in the face of what was a frightening ordeal.”

Allianz also claims

It is confirmed that members of Allianz staff were present in the building during the incident, which occurred today at approximately 2:50 am.