Haya Issa, an American expatriate with Palestinian-Jordanian roots, and her four children had a long-standing weekend routine of visiting a local drive-through fast-food restaurant for a milkshake and burger. However, in recent weeks, their habits have undergone a significant change.
“We are now boycotting brands openly supportive of the events in Gaza,” she explained. “Many of our favorite fast-food, soda, and coffee brands are on this list. So, we have altered our routine and habits considerably.”
Haya is part of a growing number of UAE residents who have joined a global movement to boycott brands taking pro-Israeli stances or having financial interests in the country.
Media reports indicate that various Western brands are feeling the impact of these boycotts, particularly in Arab countries. Starbucks Corporation, based in Seattle, has reportedly lost around $11 billion in value since the calls for a boycott gained traction.
“We have shifted to eating and buying local,” said Haya. “You don’t have to be Palestinian to recognize the importance of avoiding brands that actively support or condone the level of violence unleashed by Israel in Gaza. I had already been boycotting certain brands before the October 7 incident, but now I see people worldwide coming together to make their voices heard.”
Rhiannon Downie-Hurst is a strong supporter of boycotts and has practiced it in the past. “Boycotting isn’t new to me; I’ve done it before and will continue to boycott where necessary,” she stated.
For Uma Bhattathiripad, joining the boycott movement came from a place of frustration and a desire to put pressure for a ceasefire. Explaining the changes to her children, she said, “Boycotting brands seems to be the only way to put pressure for a ceasefire.”
Irish expat Gabby Garvey, initially sceptical about boycotts, later changed her perspective, realizing the collective power behind such actions. “Boycott isn’t just to harm a business that is supporting genocide,” she said. “It is there to show ordinary people united with a single message against oppression and convey their demands for a dignified, free life for all. It can be powerful enough to pressure government officials and those multibillion-dollar organizations.”
