Boycotts worked in protesting apartheid South Africa. Boycotts have also had tangible impact on Israel’s economy, and given that it seems that internationally, the tides have changed in terms of countries actually recognising the genocide.

You’re right that it’s more powerful to identify what activists are doing and to join in their efforts, but this isn’t an “either/or” kind of problem. I agree that it’s not productive if people boycott a thing and go no further — we do need people pushing back in more active ways. However, boycotts can have an impact if enough people do it. Furthermore, I think that boycotts can act as an easily accessible first step towards more active support of a cause, as well as a way of keeping an issue in people’s minds.