An insurance group’s Bermuda office was the site of a small protest calling out the corporation’s alleged ties with Israeli banks.

Social activists Kristin White and Glenn Fubler stood outside the Axa XL offices handing out leaflets regarding the company’s investment in Israeli companies.

Ms White said that, while the demonstration was “low-key”, the message to Axa was to “divest — and they have been divesting”.

She added: “They were invested in five different Israeli companies, one of which was a weapons manufacturer.

“They divested from that and they have divested from the banks, and there is one more bank and there are not a lot of shares – like $2.6 million.

“Axa’s headquarters are being barricaded around the world. Ireland has staged a 24/7 boycott outside of Axa for six weeks.

“I feel like generally we don’t put that direct pressure, but today I wanted to have that direct pressure.”

The demonstration took place during the Chamber of Commerce’s meeting at the building on Bermudiana Road in Hamilton.

It was part of the #BoycottAXA campaign, which aimed to push the French re/insurance company to divest from all Israeli banks.

Axa Global has denied links to any Israeli banks.

Pamphlets handed out yesterday accused Israeli banks and companies of fuelling the country’s “genocidal apartheid and settler regime”.

It read: “These last months, Axa has been under pressure from human rights and climate justice groups to divest from all banks and corporations that directly finance or are complicit in Israel’s illegal settlements enterprise.

“Israelis settlement expansion is not only illegal and crushing Palestinian lives, it is also destroying Palestine’s environment.

“Since the beginning of Israel’s genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in the occupied and besieged Gaza strip, Axa has been facing an increasing wave of boycott.”

A spokeswoman for Axa XL decline to comment on this morning’s demonstration.

But she added: “Axa has no investment in any of the banks cited in recent calls for boycott.

“Axa’s investments comply with applicable laws and regulations and respect internationally recognised human rights principles.

“This is the case globally, including Axa’s investment in the Middle East region.

“The Axa Group is committed to conducting business to the highest ethical standards.

“The Axa Group Human Rights Policy can be found on our website.”

Thomas Buberl, the chief executive of the company, also addressed the accusations during the group’s annual general meeting in April.

He said: "Axa does not have any investment in Israeli banks targeted by boycott calls currently led by some activist groups against several companies.

"This means it's not 200-and-some shares – it's zero shares.“

Mr Buberl also “strongly condemned” attacks on Axa employees and property that have taken place in some Axa locations around the world.

He added that Axa did not “take a position” in the conflict, adding: “Our thoughts are with the civilian victims.”