AMID this charged atmosphere, heavy with a palpable sense of regret and ineffectuality as we watch the suffering in Gaza unfold, the call to take action resonates with urgency. Across the globe, the movement to boycott Israeli products is gaining traction, prompting individuals to boycott their favourite foods in solidarity. The repercussions are undeniable: leading Israeli companies grapple with staggering losses, underscoring the potency of unified efforts for change. Social media is ablaze with extensive “boycott lists” gaining traction, a clear message to Israel: it must be held answerable for its heinous deeds.
The challenge lies in ensuring that boycotts wield real influence and serve as a means to hold corporations responsible for their role in Palestinian suffering. The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has shed light on an effective strategy: targeted boycotts, drawing inspiration from successful historical movements such as the South African anti-apartheid movement, the US Civil Rights movement, and the Indian anti-colonial struggle, among others worldwide. In Pakistan, many people are making deliberate choices to participate in boycott efforts, often selecting which products to boycott based on convenience.
Despite this selective approach, it’s commendable that a sense of conscience is still present within us. This is why the recent decision by Punjab’s CM office, led by CM Maryam Nawaz, to distribute McDonald’s meals to children at a girls’ school has sparked widespread criticism and disbelief. Shortly after her interactions were recorded on film and in photographs, they came under intense public scrutiny.
McDonald’s falls under BDS’s ‘Organic boycott targets list, indicating that while the BDS movement didn’t originate these grassroots boycott efforts, it lends support due to these brands’ involvement in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. Additionally, the widely circulated video of IDF soldiers being served burgers and fries by the Israeli franchisee of the popular burger chain shortly after the Gaza attacks further underscores their complicity.
The situation left a distasteful impression, prompting concerns about the proficiency of the CM’s PR team. Are they oblivious to the gravest crisis unfolding globally and our accountability as Muslims in shaping history during Israel’s appalling massacre in Gaza? Rushing to make an impression without considering the bigger picture not only reflects immaturity but could also result in disastrous consequences, raising doubts about a government’s ability to handle situations effectively when crucial sensitivity is lacking.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.
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