Even McDonald’s Is A Casualty Of The Israel-Hamas War

McDonald’s, the globally loved American brand, can be added to the list of casualties as a result of the Israel-Hamas War. The war was in response to the horrific massacres in Israel on October 7, 2023, when the Israeli security establishment was caught wildly flat-footed. After a mass mobilization, McDonald’s Israel announced that it donated over 100,000 free meals, worth an estimated $1.2 million, to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), related security forces, as well as to civilians affected by the conflict, including to hospitals with five branches of the golden arches focused exclusively on the effort. Further, they are giving 50% discounts to security forces and first responders.

CurrentlMcDonald’s‘s has approximately 228 branches in Israel, with about 69 of them certified kosher, and the chain is the largest burger joint in terms of footprint in the country.

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— McDonald’s Israel | מקדונלד׳ס ישראל (@McDonaldsIL) October 22, 2023

Although McDonald’s in the Middle East are generally independently owned and operated franchises, Muslim-dominated countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Malaysia saw riots and looting of local McDonald’s franchises that have no ownership relation to the Israeli franchise. Local franchises have demonstrated their solidarity with the plight of the Palestinians and have announced donations to assist with aid efforts to the Gaza Strip, including from franchise ownership in Malaysia, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Oman, and Kuwait.

Separete from the locally owned in-country franchises, the corprorate arm of McDonald’s announced a $1 million donation split between the Red Cross and The World Food Program.

McDonald’s is not the only multinational food chain to be caught up in the morass. For example, Starbucks released a statement condemning Hamas’ acts of terror and sued the Workers United after they posted “Solidarity with Palestine!” a mere two days after Hamas massacre that killed more than 1,000 people and resulted in injury and kidnapping of many others.