After receiving backlash for providing free food for Israel, McDonald’s in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia released a statement in their official page saying that the decision was entirely independent adhering to the McDonald’s in Israel. The “explanatory statement” was released in the official X (formerly twitter) account of Saudi Arabia’s McDonald’s. The post read that neither McDonald’s international or any other franchise “had any direct or indirect involvement or connection with this initiative”.

McDonald’s Saudi Arabia declared their ”humanitarian sympathy” and solidarity with their “brothers in beloved Palestine” and that they “do not accept bidding on our Arabism”. The statement said that the Saudi Arabia’s McDonald’s emphasis their responsible is only limited “to the borders of our country” and not responsible in any way what other franchise of McDonald’s do. The statement said as a Saudi company, McDonald’s of Saudi Arabia has been proud of their Saudi identity since the company’s inception.

 

بيان توضيحي من ماكدونالدز السعودية pic.twitter.com/mWPSnWzje2

— ماكدونالدز السعودية – الوسطى والشرقية والشمالية (@McDonaldsKSA) October 14, 2023

The statement did not end with clarifying their stance but the Saudi McDonald’s has announced about donating 2 million Saudi Riyal ( $533,000) to the relief fund of Gaza. The statement said McDonald’s is a “joint-stock” company which is owned by millions of people including the Arabs and Muslims.

“Out of concern for its commercial interests around the world, it never interferes in politics and always adheres to neutrality and in order to safeguard its commercial interests in more than 120 countries around the world, refrained from adopting any political positions”.

The statement also said that any of the acts or decisions taken by the any of the countries does not actually “represent McDonald’s International, its policies or its values and principles”. The statement ended with seeking to Go for protecting “our beloved country and all Muslim and Arab countries from all harm”.

Saudi Arabia is not the only one who decided to aid Palestine. McDonald’s in Qatar, which is owned by Al Mana Restaurants and Food Company LLC has also announced to give 1,000,000 Qatari Riyal to Palestine for providing basic necessities like food, water and medical care. Qatar McDonald’s also made it clear that they are an independent company and does not have any relation with decisions taken by any other McDonald’s franchise around the globe. The statement ended with note saying “we pray God Almighty to protect Palestine and its precious people”.

 

 

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Apart from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Turkey McDonald’s has also released a statement clarifying the relation between the country’s McDonald’s and McDonald’s in Israel. One million was announced to the “humanitarian aid” to the “war victim people of Gaza”.  The statement read, “there is no connection between the activities of McDonald’s Israel business and McDonald’s Turkey”.

 

McDonald’s Türkiye olarak; başta kadınlar, çocuklar ve yaşlılar olmak üzere savaş mağduru olan Gazze halkına 1 milyon dolarlık insani yardım desteğini sunacağımızı kamuoyuna arz ederiz.

McDonald”s Türkiye – Resmi Açıklama pic.twitter.com/MfnrnlnGSW

— McDonald”s Türkiye (@McDonaldsTR) October 13, 2023

 

McDonald’s in Malaysia also came forward and pronounced the “crucial” clarification on the “values or practices of McDonald’s Malaysia”.

 

 

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Though McDonald’s in Israel has announced the distribution of free meals to the soldiers as an act of “humanitarian aid”, the current context of where the Israeli soldiers stand in the world eye adhering to the “deadly escalation” in Gaza Strip and Israel, the decision backfired.