In Pakistan, the hashtag #BoycottMcDonalds began trending on Friday following a controversial announcement by McDonald's Israel.
Fast-food giant McDonald's is facing backlash and a potential boycott after its Israeli franchise revealed on Instagram its intention to provide thousands of free meals to Israeli hospitals and troops from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
Earlier this week, McDonald’s Israel's social media account disclosed that it had already delivered 4,000 meals to Israeli soldiers amidst ongoing hostilities with Palestinian-based Hamas militants. Additionally, the franchise offered a 50% discount on other food items for Israeli soldiers.
According to Newsweek, McDonald's Israel stated, "Yesterday, we donated 4,000 meals to hospitals and military units. We intend to donate thousands of meals every day to soldiers in the field and in drafting areas. This is beyond a discount to soldiers coming to restaurants. We opened 5 restaurants that were open only for this purpose."
The move has sparked a strong public response on social media, with many expressing their dissatisfaction. Notably, both the Instagram and Twitter accounts of McDonald's Israel have been deactivated.
In Pakistan, the hashtag #BoycottMcDonalds began trending on Friday in response to McDonald's Israel's announcement.
Prominent politicians and organizations in Pakistan voiced their concerns, with a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party questioning whether Pakistanis should continue to patronize McDonald's. Additionally, Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba Pakistan, a student rights network, called for a boycott of companies like McDonald's, criticizing their support for the Israeli military.
In Lebanon, pro-Palestinian groups took direct action by attacking a McDonald's outlet in Sidon due to the announcement regarding the Israeli army, as reported by local media.
In response to these developments, McDonald's franchises in various countries, including Oman, UAE, Turkey, and Kuwait, issued statements expressing support for Gaza.
— McDonald's UAE (@McDonaldsUAE) October 14, 2023
McDonald's Oman pledged its solidarity with Gaza, donating $100,000 toward relief efforts in coordination with official authorities. They called for community support and prayed for the well-being of Arab and Muslim countries.
McDonald's UAE expressed deep sadness over the regional events and pledged to donate 1 million AED to the Emirates Red Crescent.
McDonald's Turkey announced a $1 million humanitarian aid initiative for the people of Gaza, recognizing them as victims of war.
Kuwait's McDonald's clarified that the actions of the McDonald's operator in Israel were not a global decision and had not been approved by other local operators, particularly in the Middle East. They pledged to donate $250,000 to the Kuwait Red Crescent Society to aid relief efforts in Gaza.
The situation arises in the context of escalating tensions in the Gaza region, where Israeli forces have been conducting retaliatory airstrikes following an attack by Hamas on October 7. The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, including civilian casualties.