![]() ![]() In Muslim-majority Malaysia, a worker at a McDonald's in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital, said the branch was seeing about 20% fewer customers, a figure that Reuters was not immediately able to verify. UNEVEN TAKE-UPĭespite efforts by targeted brands to defend themselves and retain business with special offers, boycott campaigns have continued catching on, in some cases outside the Arab world. Sameh El Sadat, an Egyptian politician and co-founder of TBS Holding, a supplier to Starbucks and McDonald's, said he had noticed a drop or slowdown of about 50% in demand from his clients. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the figures the employee provided. "We are struggling to cover our own expenses during this time," the employee said. Some campaigners have singled out Starbucks for suing its workers' union over a post on the Israel-Hamas conflict, and McDonald's after its Israeli franchise said it gave free meals to Israeli military personnel.Īn employee at McDonald's corporate offices in Egypt who asked not to be named said the Egyptian franchise's October and November sales fell by at least 70% compared to the same months last year. Therefore, the reaction, whether on the Arab street or even internationally, is unprecedented," said Hossam Mahmoud, a member of BDS Egypt. "The scale of the aggression against the Gaza strip is unprecedented. Previous boycott campaigns in Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, had less impact, including those advocated by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. 7, and that about 240 were taken hostage. Israel said about 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attack on Oct. ![]() The protests also reflect a groundswell of anger over an Israeli military operation that is more destructive than previous offensives, causing a humanitarian crisis and killing 13,300 civilians, according to authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. Egypt and Jordan made peace with Israel decades ago, but those deals did not lead to a popular rapprochement. The boycott campaigns have spread in countries where pro-Palestinian sentiment has traditionally been strong. Other Western companies did not immediately respond to requests by Reuters for comment. Starbucks, which earlier this month reported record revenues for the fourth quarter, said it had nothing further to share on its business. The statement said the company was a non-political organisation and dismissed rumours that it had provided support to the Israeli government or army. Its Egyptian franchise has underlined its Egyptian ownership and pledged 20 million Egyptian pounds ($650,000) in aid to Gaza.Īsked for comment, Starbucks referred to a statement on its website about its operations in the Middle East that was updated in October. McDonald's Corp said in a statement last month that it was "dismayed" by disinformation regarding its position on the conflict and that its doors were open to all.
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