By Malak Abu-Hajar
Staff Writer
As a Palestinian American, I regret spending at companies that contribute to the death of Palestinians. I am disgusted that people still justify the Israeli government’s actions after they have injured and murdered thousands of people. I have family in the West Bank. Although they have not been physically harmed, they still fear for their lives. It scares me that there are heartless people who don’t even turn their heads in the direction of this ongoing genocide.
While 65% of Americans say they want to prevent starvation in Gaza, they are not acting as such. Some people only view it as a trend, reposting and liking a few TikToks while continuing to buy from boycotted companies. Boycotting is the act of avoiding major companies that contribute to something you don’t support, and in this case it’s the genocide in Gaza.
Israel and the U.S. have very close ties to each other, meaning our tax dollars often fund Israeli military actions. Just by living in the U.S., we already contribute to the genocide.
As the consumer, you have the control to stop unethical spending. Major companies such as Starbucks, Amazon, McDonald’s and Domino’s are complicit in the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces. By continuing to do business in Israel, they are indirectly funding weaponry that’s used to murder Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and bomb buildings, such as hospitals to keep them from getting any medical help.
When you spend at these companies, your money contributes to the deaths of around 28 children per day, according to reporting by Al Jazeera. For the past two years, people have been boycotting for Palestine globally because they genuinely care and have seen good outcomes.
One prime example of success is the boycott on Starbucks. Their franchise in the Middle East experienced a 50% revenue drop in the first three months of 2025, forcing them to close stores. This extreme decline shows that consumer pressure in just one region can lead to real financial impact.
Some may argue, “Hamas started the war so why should we care?” First, it shouldn’t matter who started the war when hundreds of thousands of innocent people are suffering. As of Aug. 28, 2025, there have been more than 60,000 deaths since Oct. 7, 2023 and over 134,000 deaths since 1948.
Second, it’s a misconception that the conflict began with Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7. In reality, it started during the 1948 Nakba, an event where Zionist groups displaced Palestinians with the support of the United Nations.
While we have the geographical advantage to purchase without thinking, we must remind ourselves that people are suffering. Stop purchasing from major companies that fund the IDF; the survival of Palestinians depends on it.