Muslims urged to avoid purchasing Israeli dates as Ramazan begins

Pro-Palestinian supporters are urging Muslims to be cautious when purchasing Israeli dates, which are increasingly sold during the holy month of Ramazan. Boycott advocates emphasise the importance of checking the barcode on date packets to avoid buying products from Israeli companies.

Dates hold special significance during Ramazan, as it is a prophetic tradition for Muslims to break their fast with dates and water.

The ongoing boycott of pro-Israel brands and companies continues as Israel's occupation persists, with many observing that Israeli dates are still available in the market.

Read: Starbucks to lay off 1,100 workers amid declining sales after Gaza war

Dates with barcodes starting with 729 are linked to Israel, and consumers are encouraged to verify the country of origin listed on the packaging.

Another way to ensure the boycott is upheld is to check if the packets have been repackaged to conceal the original brand.

Israeli dates are produced on settlements built on Palestinian land, and purchasing from such companies indirectly supports Israeli incursions into Palestinian territories.

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The world-wide boycott campaign against Israeli brands and products was started by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement after Israel launched military offensive on Gaza on October 27, 2023.

Various regions have experienced spontaneous grassroots boycott campaign in response to Israel's relentless genocide in the Gaza Strip.