Rome - Saba:
The "Co-op" supermarket chain in Italy has announced the removal of certain Israeli products from its shelves in protest against the genocide being committed by Tel Aviv against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, ongoing for the past 21 months.
The British-origin company, one of Italy’s most prominent supermarket chains, stated on Wednesday: “We cannot remain indifferent to the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip.”
The statement strongly condemned the blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation government on Gaza and its prevention of the delivery of humanitarian aid and supplies to civilians.
It announced the withdrawal of various goods produced in Israel from Co-op’s stores, including pistachios, tahini, and items bearing the Sodastream brand. The decision, it noted, was based on a report by the company’s Ethics Committee.
The statement further noted that initiatives launched or supported by the company to provide material support for Gaza remain ongoing.
It also highlighted the addition of a new product called “Gaza Cola” to store shelves, with proceeds from its sales dedicated to rebuilding a hospital in the Gaza Strip.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, backed by the United States, has been committing acts of genocide in Gaza involving killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement—disregarding international appeals and rulings by the International Court of Justice to halt the atrocities.
This genocide has resulted in approximately 188,000 Palestinians killed or injured—most of them children and women—with over 11,000 missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, famine claiming more lives including children, and widespread destruction.
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