Irish actor Liam Cunningham voices support for Palestinian rights and BDS movement

• Cunningham linked his advocacy to Ireland’s 700-year history under settler colonialism, citing the 19th-century origins of the term "boycott."
• The actor encouraged supporters to engage with BDS initiatives both online and in Barcelona.

Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, has publicly reaffirmed his support for Palestinian rights and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, drawing historical parallels between Palestine and Ireland’s past.

In a video message on his social media, the actor, stated that his solidarity stems from Ireland’s own experience with foreign rule.

"I support Palestine and the important work of BDS," Cunningham said. "And the reason is I come from Ireland, a country that has suffered settler colonialism for 700 years."

Cunningham went on to recount the 19th-century origins of the boycott tactic in Ireland, referencing a group of Irish farmers who refused to pay rent or engage with Captain Charles Boycott, a land agent collecting funds on behalf of settlers.

"They refused to have anything to do with him. They wouldn't even recognize his existence," Cunningham noted. "That man's name was Captain Charles Boycott. The term 'boycott' was coined in Ireland."

Concluding his latest remarks, Cunningham urged viewers to participate in BDS campaigns in Barcelona or online.

The call comes ahead of the BDS@20 Europe Regional Conference, scheduled to take place in Barcelona from Nov. 18–20, which will bring together prominent advocates from across Europe and beyond supporting the Palestinian cause.

The actor has been an outspoken advocate for the Palestinian cause, having previously addressed the issue in Barcelona on Aug. 30, 2025, where he framed the crisis as a "battle for the soul of the world, seen through the prism of the Palestinian struggle."

During those remarks last year, Cunningham pointed to Ireland’s 800-year struggle against occupation to explain Irish solidarity, noting that British paramilitary forces known as the Black and Tans were transferred directly to Palestine following Irish independence and used the same tactics against Palestinians.

"To question the Irish sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people—it's a no-brainer that we're going to be sympathetic," he said at the time.