In an unprecedented move, an Italian superstore chain “Coop Alleanza 3.0” has removed Israeli products from its stores in eight regions across the country over the ongoing murderous campaign in Gaza.
“We cannot remain indifferent to the ongoing violence, and in the shadow of the escalation in recent weeks, we have chosen to make a symbolic gesture that aligns with our values,” the chain said in a press release.
The chain also announced that, in further solidarity with the people of Gaza, it has begun offering the pro-Palestinian beverage “Gaza Cola” in its stores.
Coop Alleanza 3.0 is the largest company in the Coop Italia network, operating approximately 350 stores across eight Italian regions, from northern Friuli Venezia Giulia to southern Apulia.
Similarly, Coop supermarket chains in Florence and the central Italian regions of Tuscany, Lazio, and Umbria have also stopped stocking Israeli products. However, spokespersons clarified that this action does not constitute a formal boycott.
The war in Gaza has triggered global protests by retailers and consumers. On the same day, the UK-based food retail company Co-op Group—a separate entity from Italy’s Coop—also announced it would no longer source products from 16 countries, including Israel, where human rights violations and breaches of international law are occurring.
