Gaza Cola: A New Soft Drink Aiming to Rebuild Health Services in Gaza
Osama Qashoo, a Palestinian activist and filmmaker, has launched a new soft drink called Gaza Cola in London, with the aim of using its profits to help rebuild al Karama hospital in northern Gaza, which has been destroyed amid ongoing conflict. The UN has warned that Gaza's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse due to targeted attacks on hospitals.
Qashoo, who founded the drink as a response to the humanitarian crisis in his homeland, hopes that Gaza Cola will not only raise funds but also send a message to corporations profiting from armed trade. The product is adorned with the Palestinian flag and designed with cultural motifs. Qashoo emphasizes that the initiative is a means to challenge the ethics of big companies that prioritize profit over human dignity.
He has already sold over 500,000 units of Gaza Cola since its launch, and the drink is now being distributed across the UK and to several international markets, including Spain and Kuwait. Despite its success, Qashoo notes that family and friends in Gaza are unlikely to ever taste the product.
Local soft drink alternatives like Gaza Cola have gained traction as boycotts against major brands like Coca-Cola grow in the region. Qashoo, who has been an active member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, hopes his initiative will help change consumption habits as consumers seek alternatives to established companies complicit in conflict.
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