Showing their disdain for the war on Gaza, a growing number of people have been boycotting products and companies which either invest in or show support to Israel.
The boycott campaigns, from supermarkets to soft drinks, have been growing recently, after the killing of more than 17,000 Palestinian civilians and displacements of hundreds of thousands more, Asian Image reported.
Mujahid Hussain, a 48-year-old British Muslim, said he no longer shopped at Tesco nor at Asda, comparing Israel’s actions against Hamas to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“I stopped going to Tesco many years ago, after the last bombing of Gaza,” he said.
“I did go to Asda but then I wanted to find out why they gave £1 million to the Ukrainian appeal and then not the same to Palestine appeal?
“It makes sense to give to both appeals would it not? Also, Russian products were banned does that mean Israeli products will be too?”
The Starbucks franchise has also received criticism, after criticizing its US-based union for posting “Solidarity with Palestine” on social media.
“I know a lot of people who are just not going to places like Starbucks and McDonald’s anymore,” said Shamila, 23, who stopped going to the store after reading about boycotts taking place in other parts of the world.
“The bombing of Gaza and the number of people who have stopped going to the franchises is still going.
“I think it is because people feel completely helpless and know the only genuine way they can make a difference is taking part in a boycott.
“I went to all the marches and it made little difference apart from made me feel I did something.
“By boycotting we can stand our ground.”
The boycott campaigns have expanded over many countries in the world as a new “No Thanks” app called on people not to buy products from companies that support Israel.
The app, launched on November 13, has been downloaded over 100,000 times so far, as social media comments suggest people around the world are interested in the app.
SOURCE: https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/uk-shoppers-boycott-israel-related-products-over-gaza/
