Shake Shack Faces Boycott Calls Over Israel

Burger chain Shake Shack is facing boycott calls over its decision to open a restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel, amid the country’s conflict with Hamas.

A number of brands across the world that have faced boycott calls by pro-Palestinian supporters over supposed support of Israel amid its war in Gaza, which erupted after an October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack in southern Israel that killed roughly 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages back to Gaza.

Israel’s response, massive airstrikes and a ground invasion, has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians in the territory, many of them women and children, according to Reuters, citing Gaza’s health ministry.

Shake Shack was drawn into the conversation after it was revealed that its first restaurant in Israel opened on February 7. Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an article on the opening, with photos showing patrons in long lines for the food.

News of the opening was subsequently shared on X, formerly Twitter. X account @CensoredMen posted a Shake Shack promotional image earlier this week, along with the caption: “Shake Shack opened their first location in Israel 8 days ago.”

The post, which has been viewed more than 6 million times, sparked a strong reaction from X users, many of whom vowed to boycott the brand. Despite perceptions that the decision was made to open the Shake Shack in Israel during the conflict, the Tel Aviv location was actually announced in April 2023, several months before the latest round of bloodshed in the Middle East began.

Newsweek has contacted representatives of Shake Shack via email for comment.

“Say ‘NO’ to Shake Shack. Spread the word. Hurt them,” wrote Republican Sam Parker, who sought election to the U.S. Senate from Utah back in 2018.

“Boycott Shake Shack!” read one comment, while another X user demanded: “Let’s add Shake Shack to the boycott list now.”

“People in Gаza are starving and Shake Shack decided to open a location in Israеl,” wrote one X user. “This s*** is so dystopian man…”

Echoing that sentiment, another said: “American fast food chains opening new locations in Israel while people are starving in Gaza is actually so insane, like I didn’t care for Shake Shack before but the whole company can go to hell now.”

“Damn, I’ve never been to shake shack but now I guess I never will,” another detractor weighed in.

“Gaza and Tel Aviv are just a 1.5 hour drive apart but couldn’t be farther away from each other,” observed another. “While Palestinians are starving, Israelis are lining up for burgers at the new Shake Shack. This dissonance is a major obstacle to resolving this crisis.”

The post sparked a strong reaction from a number of Israel supporters, one of whom asked: “[What] are you saying? That Israelis should be starving as a result of the war Hamas started? That them being fed is an obstacle to peace? Honestly asking what [your] goal is here.”

Joel Petlin, who is superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District in Orange County, New York, responded: “Gaza and Tel Aviv are just a 1.5 hour drive apart, but if Hamas had the opportunity, they would murder every Israeli lined up for a burger at Shake Shack.”

Other Israel supporters said that the outrage expressed on X was misdirected.

“Outrage over Israeli @shakeshack is so stupid,” opined one. “Sorry not sorry, but if Jews stopped eating every time people tried to kill us, we would never eat. [Be right back] getting a shroom burger to make the anti-Zionist antisemites cry.”

“I see no problem with opening the Shake Shack,” another stated, adding that those complaining should focus their “anger” on Hamas, “who prevents international (including Israeli) aid from getting to the [people] in Gaza.”

“Yeah everyone would be saved if you would boycott Shake Shack,” another said in response to a detractor. “But god forbid if you redirect [your] efforts to pressure Hamas to surrender.”

The Palestinian civilian death toll and distressing images of children dead in the rubble of bombed buildings have resulted in mounting international calls for a ceasefire and increased pressure on U.S. President Joe Biden to take a tougher line on Israel.

Despite the increasing condemnation over civilian deaths and demands for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that the army will continue its offensive to destroy Hamas, bring home the remaining hostages and stop Gaza from posing a threat.