sevendayweekender – A Palestinian activist has launched Gaza Cola. Fizzy drink alternative to Coca-Cola, with the ambitious goal of rebuilding the destroyed al Karama hospital in northern Gaza. Osama Qashoo, a 43-year-old filmmaker and human rights advocate, unveiled the beverage in London. Aiming to use its profits to support the reconstruction of the hospital, which was reduced to rubble during ongoing conflicts.
The UN has warned of Gaza’s healthcare system nearing “total collapse” due to targeted attacks on hospitals. Qashoo, recognizing the urgent need for action, hopes his initiative can serve as a small but impactful step toward addressing the crisis. He chose al Karama hospital for its relatively smaller size and manageable reconstruction cost. Although he couldn’t specify the exact amount needed, Qashoo emphasized the importance of imagination and hope.
“We have to dream, otherwise we can’t live,” he said, underscoring the broader message of resilience and resistance embodied by Gaza Cola.
Activist’s Symbolic Soft Drink Aims to Rebuild and Send a Powerful Message
Palestinian activist Osama Qashoo is channeling profits from his newly launched Gaza Cola toward reconstructing the al Karama hospital. The Hospital destroyed in northern Gaza. While finalizing plans for the hospital’s medical equipment and design, including thoughtful details like lighting. Qashoo has already helped establish a temporary field hospital using parachutes from aid airdrops as makeshift shelter.
The idea for Gaza Cola came to Qashoo in November 2023. The red can features symbolic elements, including the Palestinian flag, Arabic calligraphy spelling “Gaza Cola,” and a pattern inspired by the keffiyeh, a scarf often associated with Palestinian resistance. Despite not being a fan of fizzy drinks himself, Qashoo sees Gaza Cola as a platform for spreading a deeper message.
“It’s a statement to corporate companies investing in armed trade,” Qashoo said. “Do you see what your money’s doing? It’s destroying homes and causing genocide.” His initiative calls for accountability, urging businesses to recognize the human cost of their greed and investments.
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Activist Behind Gaza Cola Champions Boycott Movement and Palestinian Cultural Revival
Osama Qashoo, the creator of Gaza Cola, is a staunch supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. This movement targets companies complicit in human rights violations. A co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in 2001 and a participant in the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Qashoo has long been at the forefront of advocating for Palestinian rights.
Originally from Nablus in the West Bank, Qashoo fled Palestine over 18 years ago after enduring imprisonment, torture, and gunshot wounds inflicted by occupation forces. Now residing in the UK, he has opened Palestine House, a cultural and political hub in central London, where Palestinians and allies can connect and express their identity freely.
Qashoo views Coca-Cola, a BDS boycott target, as emblematic of corporations prioritizing profits over humanity. Coca-Cola operates facilities in occupied East Jerusalem and, alongside other global brands like McDonald’s and PepsiCo, has faced criticism for continuing business in conflict zones, including Russia during its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Through Gaza Cola, Qashoo delivers a pointed message to multinational companies. “These corporations don’t care about human lives,” he said. His initiative reflects his enduring fight for justice, aiming to support Palestinians while urging global accountability.
Gaza Cola Gains Global Momentum as Activist Encourages Shift Away From Big Brands
Osama Qashoo’s Gaza Cola is rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to major soft-drink brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the Middle East and beyond. Boycotts of these multinational companies across the region have opened opportunities for local brands, and Qashoo aims to capitalize on this shift.
“If you like cola, why not choose this one? It’s an alternative,” Qashoo said, highlighting Gaza Cola’s symbolic and ethical appeal. By the end of 2024, the brand had sold over 500,000 cans, with a 24-pack priced at £30 and a six-pack at £12 online. The beverage is now being shipped across the UK and to international destinations such as Spain, Australia, South Africa, and Kuwait.
Despite its growing success abroad, Gaza Cola faces challenges reaching the people who inspired its creation. Qashoo’s friends and family in Gaza and the West Bank, where Coca-Cola remains a dominant force, may not have access to the drink due to logistical and political barriers.
Qashoo hopes Gaza Cola will encourage consumers to rethink their choices and support ethical alternatives. The initiative also serves as a broader critique of global corporations profiting in conflict zones. Coca-Cola, which operates facilities in occupied East Jerusalem, did not respond to requests for comment.
Gaza Cola’s growing demand demonstrates how a small, mission-driven business can challenge multinational giants while fostering social change. Qashoo’s dream of turning a soft drink into a statement against exploitation continues to resonate globally.
