Truth About Starbuck's Watermelon Mug In Support Of Palestine
Amidst the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the mounting global contempt on anything related to Israel, rumours had it that Starbucks has started supporting Palestine. Starbucks is listed top among the companies to be boycotted by the pro-Palestine supporters for its allegiance with Israel. It was claimed that Starbucks has begun selling a watermelon mug to signal its support for Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war and appease those boycotting the chain.
However, the claims are false. The said mug was part of Starbucks’ U.K. summer collection, which was launched in May 2023, months before the war broke out, a company spokesperson Jaci Anderson told The Associated Press (AP).
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The rumour has been going rounds since January this year. Some people on social media are falsely claiming that Starbucks is selling the watermelon mug to mitigate damage caused by a boycott of the company over the conflict. Posts that spread online also included photos and videos of the mug, which features a watermelon design on each side — green on the bottom with a white stripe through the middle and red with black seeds near the rim.
it’s giving “we’re so sorry pls come”. y’all ain’t fooling us. we still boycotting. pic.twitter.com/4eRFhcBh3g
— Karim Wafa-Al Hussaini (@DrKarimWafa) January 17, 2024
Watermelon is considered as the symbol of resistance by the Palestinians. Since Israel started to impose ton weighted blockade and restrictions on the Palestinians, even their writings, pictures and colours they use, anything that represent their nationality have become the symbol of resistance for the Palestinians. Colors found in a slice of watermelon, the green and white rind, red pulp and black seeds, also appear in the Palestinian flag.
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The watermelon imagery has become more popular recently. It became a symbol of solidarity in protests against Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, especially where displaying the flag has been banned.
