A demonstration escalated outside a local KFC where protesters denounced the perceived corporate backing of Israel by several international food and beverage franchises. The event formed part of a wider call to boycott businesses like KFC, McDonald’s, and Starbucks, which activists label as sympathizers with Israel.
Organizers cite the brands’ operations in Israel as a stance against Palestine, framing their call for boycotts as a measure to combat alleged war crimes in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. This action follows similar protests globally, where economic leverage is used to express dissent.
In a related development, employees at Google have openly criticized the tech giant’s CEO for his public expression of condolence towards Israelis affected by a recent attack. The staff’s reaction reflects a broader discourse on corporate responsibility and the geopolitics of conflict, highlighting a divide within one of the world’s leading corporations over issues of political conflict and humanitarian crises.
The protests and internal company disputes signal a rising trend of activism and political discourse within corporate contexts, with employees and consumers increasingly holding companies accountable for their perceived political positions.
It was just earlier this year that Palestinians were using their underground tunnel network to smuggle KFC into Gaza.
“Local delivery company is bringing fried chicken from the U.S. fast-food chain through tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border, and delivering it all over the Gaza Strip,” was reported by Haaretz.