McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski has said several markets in the Middle East and even some outside the region are experiencing a “meaningful business impact” due to the conflict as well as “associated misinformation” about the brand.

Major Western fast-food chains, including McDonald’s, have been hit by a largely spontaneous, grassroots boycott campaign over the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Western brands are feeling the impact in Egypt and Jordan, and there are signs the campaign is spreading in some other Arab regions such as Kuwait and Morocco.

Some of the companies the campaign is directed at are perceived to have taken pro-Israeli stances and some are alleged to have financial ties to Israel.

Editorial

31 Jul, 2026

Expanding conflict

WITH neither of the belligerents willing to back down, and the theatre of conflict expanding geographically, the...
31 Jul, 2026

Spoils and spats

A FIGHT over assembly seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has laid bare what seem to be some deep resentments between ...
31 Jul, 2026

Unfair tax system

THE disclosure that the FBR collected nearly Rs1.9tr in sales and income taxes through electricity bills over the...
30 Jul, 2026

Debt that stays

THE power sector’s circular debt grew by Rs61bn in the last fiscal year, taking the total to roughly Rs1.67tr from...
30 Jul, 2026

HIV warning

THE HIV infections detected around two SESSI-run hospitals in Karachi demand far more than another hurried committee...
30 Jul, 2026

End trafficking

MODERN slavery, in the form of human trafficking, is among the state’s gravest failures. Scores of Pakistanis are...