Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a social media-fueled wave of boycotts is targeting not only McDonald’s but other pro-Israeli brands.
The boycott wave began when McDonald’s Israeli branch made a controversial announcement on social media, stating that it had been providing complimentary meals to Israeli military personnel during the ongoing strife with Hamas.
Taking to Instagram, McDonald’s Israel revealed that it had distributed “numerous meals” across Israel in recent days.
The company openly disclosed that it had supplied 4,000 meals to hospitals and military units and had plans to deliver thousands more each day to soldiers stationed in the field and drafting areas.
The franchise had implemented a 50% discount for soldiers and security forces who frequented their branches.
This announcement triggered widespread disapproval on social media, prompting calls for a boycott of McDonald’s and other associated brands.
Photographs of Israeli soldiers holding McDonald’s food bags have been extensively shared on Palestinian and Arab social media platforms, causing outrage among online communities in the Arab world.
This has led to a significant push for a global boycott of McDonald’s under the hashtag “#BoycottMcDonalds.” This hashtag became a top trending topic in several Arab countries.
One Jewish community X account tweeted “As a Jewish community, we boycott Mcdonald’s due to its support for the occupying Zionist Israel. Such companies are definitely a major obstacle to peace. We invite everyone to boycott Mcdonald’s. Zionists are not Jews. Zionism is not Judaism.”
As a Jewish community, we boycott McDonald’s due to its support for the occupying Zionist Israel.
Such companies are definitely a major obstacle to peace. We invite everyone to boycott McDonald’s.
Zionists are not Jews.
Zionism is not Judaism.#BoycottMcDonalds pic.twitter.com/FLs7PaAiMW
— Torah Judaism (@TorahJudaism) October 15, 2023
“Boycott McDonald’s, Burger King, Hardee’s, Subwa, Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks. Boycott occupation,” said another user.
Boycott McDonald’s, Burger King, Hardee’s, Subway, Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks.
Boycott OCCUPATION.
— Afroze AL Fuad ✊?✊? (@iamafroze) October 14, 2023
Critics argued that it is inappropriate to support corporations involved in conflicts, especially when innocent lives are in peril.
Another user said “ if you can’t do anything else for Palestine, at least you can boycott McDonald’s, KFC, Pepsi and Lays.”
Boycott McDonald’s, Burger King, Hardee’s, Subway, Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks.
Boycott OCCUPATION.
— Afroze AL Fuad ✊?✊? (@iamafroze) October 14, 2023
After the boycott campaign, access to McDonald’s accounts in Israel was limited, allowing only followers within the occupied Palestinian territories to reach the pages.
With the spread of the boycott movement, many agents of McDonald’s franchises in the Arab world swiftly issued statements asserting their lack of connection to McDonald’s in Israel. They clarified that McDonald’s is a publicly traded company owned by millions of individuals globally.
These local businesses said that they are entirely locally owned, with independent management, and all profits are directed towards these local companies. The global company’s role is restricted to authorizing the local use of the brand through the franchise system.
It’s worth noting that the wave of boycott has expanded to emcompass other pro-Israeli brands such as L’Oreal, Starbucks, Burger King, Nike, hp, Puma, Lipton.
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