Starbucks Middle East franchise to cut jobs after Gaza boycott: Report
Gulf retail giant Alshaya Group, which owns the rights to operate Starbucks in the Middle East, is planning to lay off over 2,000 people as the business takes a hit from consumer boycotts linked to the Gaza war, sources have told Reuters news agency. People familiar with the matter told the news agency that the cuts, which began on Sunday, amount to about 4 percent of Alshaya’s total workforce of almost 50,000 people.
They are mostly concentrated in its Starbucks franchises in the Middle East and North Africa. The brand has been hit by a grassroots boycott campaign over Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip. In October, Starbucks said it was a nonpolitical organisation and dismissed rumours that it had provided support to the Israeli government or army.
Israel uproots 400 olive seedlings in Palestinian village near Bethlehem
Israeli forces have bulldozed agricultural fields and uprooted 400 olive seedlings in the village of Wadi Fukin, west of Bethlehem. Ibrahim al-Haroub, the head of the Wadi Fukin village council, told Wafa news agency that the occupation forces stormed the village’s Abu Siaj area near the Israeli settlement of Tzur Hadassah – which is illegally built on stolen Palestinian land – and also bulldozed about 10 acres (four hectares) of land.
Israeli attacks on Palestinian land has escalated following October 7, with settlers and soldiers carrying out acts of vandalism, bulldozing, and uprooting Palestinian trees.
PRCS says Israel committed hundreds of violations against its medical teams in West Bank
💢PRCS has provided first aid services to 3 persons injured due to the Israeli targeting of a house in Nuseirat refugee camp.
📷PRCS volunteer: Mohammed sleman pic.twitter.com/UbquaCfoNb
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) March 5, 2024
The aftermath of Israeli army attacks in Rafah
