KFC, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Other Western Brands Hit By Boycott Campaigns in Arab Regions Over Gaza War

The war in Gaza is raging on and Western companies are feeling the negative effects of the conflict on their respective businesses. Major brands such as McDonald’s, KFC, and Starbucks operating in some Arab countries are currently experiencing losses as the public is calling for boycotts against them.

Every time a conflict arises in the Middle East, businesses of American brands suffer because they are always among the first targets of public anger. The locals will stop buying products from them thus no sales come at the height of the squabble.

War in Gaza Triggered New Boycott Calls

The fighting in Gaza that broke out in October when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel is no different. Starbucks and McDonald’s stores in Lebanon were attacked and the public announced nationwide boycotts against them.

As Israel continues to pound on Gaza Strip in retaliation to the Hamas attack last month, Arab people have once again initiated boycott campaigns for locals to stop patronizing Western brands and franchises in their territory. They said that they were doing this to show their solidarity with the Palestinians while also protesting the bias towards Israel.

Empty Western Fast-Food Chain Locations

Reuters reported that the impact on Western brands is felt by companies in Egypt and Jordan. And as the campaign spreads further, franchises in Kuwait and Morocco are feeling the effects now as well.

In Cairo, one McDonald’s has no customers while staff clean the tables and other branches in the city are also said to be empty despite being open for service. One Cairo resident who joined the boycott explained why he was participating by saying, "I feel that even if I know this will not have a massive impact on the war, then this is the least we can do as citizens of different nations so we don't feel like our hands are covered in blood."

In Kuwait City and Jordan, some locations of Starbucks, McDonald's, and KFC were almost deserted. Workers of the chain confirmed the number of customers significantly dropped this week.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that the war in Gaza will escalate further if the truce does not hold. His comment comes as a ceasefire is expected to start this week.

Photo by: Maxime Lebrun/Unsplash