June 14 (Reuters) - Barclays ( JJCTF ) suspended on

Friday its sponsorship of all Live Nation music

festivals in 2024 after various acts dropped out in protest over

the bank's links to defense companies that work with Israel.

The suspension includes upcoming Live Nation festivals

across the UK this summer, including Latitude, Download and the

Isle of Wight.

"The protestors' agenda is to have Barclays ( JJCTF ) debank defence

companies which is a sector we remain committed to as an

essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe," the

bank's spokesperson told Reuters.

The suspension comes after several artists, including

country singer CMAT, metal band Ithaca and comedian Joanne

McNally, pulled out of the events.

Last month, Barclay's annual shareholders' meeting was

disrupted by activists protesting against its alleged indirect

links to violence in Gaza. The bank had said the week before

that it did not invest its own money in companies that supply

weapons used by Israel in Gaza.