Everything You Need to Know: Why We Boycott Coca Cola

Coca Cola’s Long History in Israel

Coca Cola has been doing business in Israel for decades. In the 1960s, Coca Cola opened a bottling plant in Israel which caused outrage in Arab countries. From 1966 until 1991, a 13-nation Arab League boycott banned Coke because it chose to operate in Israel while Palestinian land was under occupation. This boycott meant Coca Cola was not sold in many Middle Eastern countries for years. Pepsi avoided Israel at the time and gained popularity in Arab markets.

Today, Coca Cola works through local partners, and in Israel that partner is the Central Bottling Company also known as Coca Cola Israel. This company runs a factory in the Atarot Industrial Zone in East Jerusalem. Atarot is an illegal Israeli settlement built on occupied Palestinian land. The United Nations has stated that all settlements built in occupied territories violate international law. Coca Cola’s Israeli partner uses water and land that Palestinians are denied. According to Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the BDS movement, this means Coke is complicit in a war crime.

In 2016, Coca Cola opened a $25 million factory in Gaza, hoping to create jobs. But even that plant was damaged during the war and stopped production. This highlights how Palestinian investments remain fragile while Israeli businesses thrive with global support. Critics say Coca Cola benefits mostly Israel’s economy while Palestinian communities suffer.

Ties to Apartheid and Occupation

Coca Cola’s presence in the Atarot settlement shows how it is helping Israel maintain its system of apartheid. Settlements like Atarot force Palestinians off their land and restrict their movement. They often face water shortages while companies like Coca Cola have full access. These are not just technical issues. This is a case of a global brand working with a regime that is accused of apartheid and land theft.

The Central Bottling Company also has a plant in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. According to the group Who Profits, Coca Cola’s partner is deeply involved in business on stolen land. Friends of Al Aqsa and other advocacy groups have called for a boycott of Coca Cola until it ends all operations in illegal settlements.

In 2014, when Coca Cola opened a Gaza factory, many asked how the company would get water when the people of Gaza barely had enough to survive. The company never gave a clear answer. It seemed more focused on public relations than justice.

Coca Cola and the War on Gaza

The war on Gaza that started in October 2023 has been one of the deadliest for Palestinians. Thousands were killed and neighborhoods were destroyed. Reports show that Israel used starvation as a weapon against 2.1 million people. In this context, photos of Israeli soldiers drinking Coca Cola while attacking Gaza sparked global outrage. The image of soldiers sipping Coke while children died of hunger became a symbol of corporate complicity.

Palestinian activist Osama Qashoo launched a drink called Gaza Cola in response. He said the main goal was to boycott companies that support the Israeli army and genocide. Coca Cola is seen as one of those companies. It did not speak out against the war. It continued doing business in Israel and released ads trying to normalize its presence in Palestine. One ad said "Even Palestine has a Coke factory" but failed to mention that the factory is controlled by an Israeli company on occupied land. After public backlash, Coca Cola apologized.

BDS added Coca Cola to its official boycott list. On the first day of the war, activists called for people to stop buying Coke. The Palestinian BDS National Committee said Coca Cola is quenching the thirst of Israel’s genocidal soldiers. Around the world, especially in Muslim countries, people began to stop drinking Coca Cola. Restaurants and cafes in the West Bank refused to serve it. Workers called out customers who ordered it. Many switched to local alternatives like Gaza Cola.

Salah Hussein from the Ramallah Chamber of Commerce said it best. This is the biggest boycott we have ever seen. After October 7, everything changed.

Impact on Coca Cola

The boycott is not just symbolic. It is hurting Coca Cola’s business. In the Middle East and North Africa, more than half of consumers say they are boycotting certain brands. Coca Cola is one of the main targets. In Bangladesh, sales fell by 23 percent. In Egypt, Coca Cola saw a double digit drop in sales. Overall, Western soda brands lost about 7 percent of their revenue in the region during the first half of 2024.

Boycott campaigns work. People are educating each other and turning to local drinks. In some places, Gaza Cola and Chat Cola have seen a 40 percent increase in sales. Coca Cola tried to fight back with ads but most of them failed. One ad was pulled after backlash. Others were mocked as propaganda. Each attempt to cover up the company’s role in apartheid has only added to the pressure.

Coca Cola denies that it funds any military. The company has a page on its site that says it does not send profits to the Israeli army. It also says that its Palestinian factories employ locals and help the community. But many Palestinians say that a few jobs do not excuse complicity in apartheid. They would rather see justice and freedom than Coke-sponsored factories.

Other Coca Cola Brands

The Coca Cola Company owns more than just its main cola drink. It also owns Sprite, Fanta, Diet Coke, Minute Maid, Smartwater, Schweppes, Costa Coffee, Innocent Smoothies, and more. Groups like the Palestine Solidarity Campaign are asking people to boycott all Coca Cola brands. The message is clear. If you are boycotting Coke, that includes Sprite and Fanta too.

There are many ethical and local alternatives. You do not have to give up soft drinks. You just need to make better choices. Boycotting Coca Cola is not a sacrifice. It is a stand for human rights.

What You Can Do

Boycotting Coca Cola is part of a larger movement. Just like past campaigns that helped end apartheid in South Africa, this one aims to hold companies accountable. Every can of Coke you leave on the shelf is a vote for justice.

Start by downloading the Boycat app. It lets you scan products to check if they are linked to companies funding oppression. Use Buycat to shop ethically and support businesses that are aligned with human rights. Share this story. Talk to your friends and family. Be part of the solution.

The boycott is working. Coca Cola is feeling the pressure. Together, our small actions make a big impact. We are showing the world that Palestinian lives matter and that we will not support companies that fuel their suffering.