The McDonald’s Israel franchise reportedly donated thousands of meals to IDF soldiers and hospitals. In response, Arab McDonald’s franchises have donated over $1 million to Gaza.
“Update that already yesterday we donated 4000 meals to hospitals and military units, we intend to donate thousands of meals every day to soldiers in the field and in drafting areas, and this is beyond a discount to soldiers coming to restaurants,” reads a translation of a statement by McDonald’s Israel. “We opened 5 restaurants that were open only for this purpose.”
Business Insider reported that McDonald’s Israel said on social media that it has donated over 12,000 meals and is offering a 50 percent discount to soldiers and security forces. The McDonald’s Israel Instagram account has since become private.
After there were calls to boycott the fast-food chain, other franchises distanced themselves from the Israeli company and donated to Gaza. Some franchises issued English translations of their statements.
McDonald’s Oman issued a statement announcing its donation of $100,000 to Gaza.
“What the licensee in Israel did was an individual and private act, and not with the approval or direction the international company or any other licensee, especially in our Arab world,” reads the English version of the McDonald’s Oman statement.
“We ask God Almighty to protect our beloved country and all Arab and Muslim countries from all the evil and hate,” the statement by McDonald’s Oman concludes.
McDonald’s Turkey issued a statement in Turkish stressing its independence from the Israeli franchise and announced a donation of $1 million to Gaza.
McDonald’s Kuwait donated $250,000 to the Kuwait Red Crescent Society to support relief efforts in Gaza.
“We . . . announce that we stand with our brothers and sisters in Palestine, especially in Gaza, and we reject any and all claims questioning our Arab or our Kuwaiti identity,” the Kuwait franchise wrote in English.
McDonald’s United Arab Emirates said it is “deeply saddened by the events” and is donating AED 1 million ($272,000) to Emirates Red Crescent for the “Tarahum for Gaza” campaign.
McDonald’s Saudi Arabia donated SR 2 million ($533,000) to relief efforts in Gaza, according to Arab News. McDonald’s Qatar donated QAR 1 million ($274,000) to relief efforts in Gaza, according to Doha News. McDonald’s Bahrain donated $100,000 to Gaza, according to BNN News.
McDonald’s Pakistan issued a statement, affirming that it is a “separate entity” from the “locally-owned Israelian enterprise.” It did not announce a donation.
Reuters reported today that the death toll in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank reached 2,383 people since October 7, while more than 10,000 people have been injured. Roughly 1,300 people have died in Israel, including 27 U.S. citizens.