Campaigners are up in arms against Pret a Manger, accusing the popular sandwich chain of bowing to anti-Israel boycotts amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
On Sunday (tomorrow), central London will witness another significant pro-Palestine protest, this time at Pret’s Strand branch, orchestrated by Stop Hate UK, an anti-discrimination body.
The group alleges that Pret scrapped its Israeli expansion plans due to pro-Palestinian activist pressure. However, Pret has refuted these claims, citing regional travel restrictions as the impediment to their planned Israeli outlets.
Stop Hate UK is protesting to highlight what they see as the “discriminatory tactics of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement”. They argue that Pret’s withdrawal from Israel gives in to a campaign fostering “divisiveness and hatred”.
Itai, co-founder of the group, said: “We cannot allow companies like Pret A Manger to give in to a movement that seeks to isolate and demonise Israel. This protest is not just about Israel, but about standing against the normalisation of anti-Semitism.
Earlier this year, Pret had announced the cancellation of a deal to open 40 shops in Israel with Fox Group, an Israeli retail giant, and Yarzin Sella.
The decision to end a business agreement with Fox Group and Yarzin Sella Group, a food service company, has been hailed as a victory by pro-Palestinian groups.
They believe this is due to public opinion shifting against Israel following the military assault on Gaza that ensued after the Oct 7 Hamas attacks.
Ben Jamal, the director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, stated: “This decision sends a message to all companies if you provide support for Israel’s apartheid and genocide against Palestinians, you will face the strength of our movement, who will boycott your products and protest at your stores.
“Israel has got away with crimes against humanity for too long. The people of the world are holding Israel to account by refusing to let their spending or saving finance war crimes. It’s high time our political leaders followed suit by ending arms sales, and financial and diplomatic support to Israel.”
Activists had begun to call for a boycott of Pret, arguing that investment in Israel while it conducts “a genocide in Gaza” was unjustifiable.
A Pret spokesman said: “We have taken the difficult decision to end our current agreement with Fox Group and Yarzin Sella Group.
“We had tried to delay this decision for as long as possible, but the significant ongoing travel restrictions have meant that our teams have not been able to conduct the checks and training needed to set up Pret in a new market. Under the terms of Pret’s travel insurance, any colleagues travelling to Israel would not be insured.”