Coop Alleanza 3.0, Europe’s largest consumer cooperative, has announced a boycott of Israeli products in response to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
The decision was made this week and includes removing items such as peanuts, tahini sauce and SodaStream machines from the shelves. In their place, the chain has started offering products of Palestinian origin, including the soft drink “Gaza Cola”.
Based in Bologna, Coop Alleanza 3.0 is part of the Coop Italia consortium. The chain has 350 supermarkets and hypermarkets in eight Italian regions.
In an official statement, the cooperative declared: “We cannot remain indifferent in the face of the violence tearing the Gaza Strip apart.” The text highlights the measure’s consistency with the organization’s principles.
The soft drink “Gaza Cola” was launched in 2023 by a Palestinian company. The proceeds from sales are earmarked for humanitarian actions, such as the reconstruction of a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.
The decision drew criticism from the Jewish Community of Milan. The organization's president, Walker Meghnagi, said: "Coop is jointly responsible for an unprecedented climate of hatred and will respond in the appropriate instances."
According to him, the boycott refers to the “worst traditions” of Nazifascism.
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