Pro-Palestinian protesters have vandalised one of Donald Trump’s golf courses in Scotland by digging up the greens and spray painting the club house.
The Palestine Action group said that they had targeted the iconic Turnberry resort — which has previously hosted the British Open Championship — in response to the US president’s plan to turn Gaza into the “riviera of the Middle East”.
Footage and images posted by the protesters showed the words “Gaza is not 4 sale” had been painted on the grass.
It came as a man climbed one of the buildings of the Houses of Parliament on Saturday morning carrying a Palestine flag.
Video shared on social media showed a barefoot man stood on a ledge several metres up Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben.
Palestine Action said that the golf course protest was carried out “in response to the American administration’s plans and threats to destroy, ethnically cleanse, and ‘take over’ the Palestinian Gaza Strip”.
A statement on their website said: “After entering the 800-acre resort, activists painted in 3 metre-high letters, ‘GAZA IS NOT FOR SALE’ across the lawn of the South Ayrshire course. Making the popular opposition to Trump’s intentions clear, activists spray painted the clubhouse and dug up the greens including the course’s most prestigious holes — used in numerous Open championships.”
The group also referred to an AI video that Trump posted on his social media accounts last week, which appeared to set out a vision for a “Trump Gaza” resort.
The 35-second video imagines a rebuilt beach resort and hotel, and depicts Trump lounging by a pool in swimming trunks next to the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu. Elon Musk is also seen eating hummus and throwing cash into the air.
The clubhouse was covered in red spray paint and the greens dug up
MILO CHANDLER/ALAMY
A spokesman from Palestine Action said: “Palestine Action rejects Donald Trump’s treatment of Gaza as though it were his property to dispose of as he likes. To make that clear, we have shown him that his own property is not safe from acts of resistance. We will continue to take action against US-Israeli colonialism in the Palestinian homeland.”
Trump bought the Turnberry course in 2014. Now known as “Trump Turnberry”, it is recognised as one of the best golf resorts in the world.
Earlier this week Palestine Action claimed responsibility for spraying red paint on the University of Cambridge’s Old Schools, a Grade I building which houses the main university offices. Activists have called on the university to end its investments in companies that fund arms manufacturers.