CARLISLE'S Palestine Solidarity Group has taken their campaign to one of the UK's largest supermarket chains. 

In the weekend that marked the 30th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa, campaigners from Carlisle & District Palestine Solidarity Group chose to protest at Caldewgate’s Sainsbury’s supermarket to draw attention to the various items that come from Israel. 

They claim several products on the shelves, such as Coca-Cola, are produced in 'illegal settlements', meaning companies are profiting from what they consider stolen land.

News and Star: Products on Sainsbury's shelves targeted. Products on Sainsbury's shelves targeted. (Image: Supplied)

Using a megaphone, protesters aimed to alert customers at Sainsbury’s about the background of their purchases.

"We, as customers, are key to making change today.” a spokesperson said. 

"Just as consumers brought change to South Africa, we hope to bring change in Palestine today.

"We asked customers to take care to check the label on their purchases to avoid complicity in apartheid, occupation and genocide.

"As campaigners left the store, many customers announced that they backed the protest and agreed 100 per cent with the need to avoid complicity," they said.

Various products were highlighted during the protest, including Coca-Cola, Sabra hummus, Sudocrem, and certain types of avocados, dates and grapefruits. 

"We ask customers to check the label. This applies to all supermarkets unfortunately, we ask people to shop with ‘care’," they said. 

On the same weekend, the group commemorated the end of South Africa's apartheid on Friday evening with Amnesty International present to discuss the contentious topic: 'Israel's Apartheid against the Palestinians'.

Amnesty’s Israel/Palestine Campaign co-ordinator Mike Reed led the talk, outlining his understanding of the term apartheid.

News and Star: Amnesty's Mike Reed leads talk at Carlisle's Church of ScotlandAmnesty's Mike Reed leads talk at Carlisle's Church of Scotland (Image: Brian Mein)

He described various instances of modern-day apartheid, including Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya community and what he views as Israel's treatment of Palestinians.

According to Mike, Israel’s treatment of Palestinians meets this definition due to the 'segregation, restriction and disenfranchisement' that is imposed upon them.

The group intends to continue its campaign, with their next action scheduled for May 4, outside Barclays Bank in Carlisle, to be followed by a Peace Vigil outside House of Fraser.

Sainsbury's was approached for comment.