At the COP-30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, the Israeli delegation was expelled amid chants of “Free Palestine!” from participants, marking a powerful act of protest against Israel’s presence in international forums. The incident, which occurred on 12 November 2025, was led by Latin American delegations and Indigenous organisations who denounced Israel’s participation in the climate conference.

The demonstration formed part of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, launched in 2005 by Palestinian civil society to pressure Israel over its apartheid policies, occupation, and ongoing aggression in Gaza. The movement calls for the suspension of trade agreements, academic cooperation, and institutional ties with Israel until it complies with international law.

Over the past year, academic boycotts against Israel have tripled, while growing numbers of artists, universities, and investment funds have cut ties with Israeli institutions or companies complicit in the occupation. This global campaign has evolved into what many observers describe as a “silent boycott”, a form of moral and political sanction that increasingly isolates Israel in diplomatic, economic, and academic circles.

Analysts say the effects of this informal boycott are already visible, from reduced international partnerships to declining foreign investment, signalling a deeper global rejection of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. For many, the expulsion at COP-30 symbolises more than a diplomatic protest: it is a sign that the world’s patience with the normalisation of war crimes and systemic oppression has reached its limit.