Pro-Palestine supporter unleashes painted rats inside UK McDonald’s over alleged Israel support

A McDonald’s outlet in Birmingham, UK recently found itself in the middle of a chaotic incident that left customers both shocked and confused. To show solidarity with Palestine, a UK-based Palestine supporter staged an unexpected pro-Palestine demonstration, which involved releasing a box of rats painted in the colors of the Palestinian flag inside the popular fast-food establishment. The supporter’s actions, as you’ll see below, were in response to the alleged support McDonald’s has given to Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas. 

Details from the Scene 

The man arrived at the Birmingham McD in a vehicle with faux license plates displaying the messages ‘PAIISTN’ and ‘Free Palestine.’ On entering the restaurant, he was wearing what resembled a Palestinian flag as he revealed a box filled with rats to a group of young teenagers. 

The men, in a moment of high tension, emptied the box onto the restaurant floor, causing frantic panic among the customers. To add to the dramatic scene, he reportedly shouted anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slogans. As the scene finally ended, he used his last moments to call for a boycott of McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Disney, all of whom he alleged have supported Israel amidst the current conflict in the region. 

Official Response from McDonald’s 

Following the disturbance, McDonald’s verified the occurrence. An official spokesperson confirmed that a number of mice were indeed let loose within the premises. In their public statement, they mentioned that specialists were summoned immediately to sanitize and inspect the affected area thoroughly: 

“We are aware of an incident in our Birmingham Star City restaurant this evening where a number of mice were released by a member of the public. Following the removal of the mice, the restaurant has been fully sanitized and our pest control partners have been called out to conduct a full inspection.”

Backdrop: McDonald’s and Its Role in the Ongoing Israel-Hamas Dispute 

The incident can be seen as a reflection of the wider global reaction to McDonald’s operations in Israel. Earlier this month, McDonald’s Israel came under fire in the online world when it announced its initiative to provide complimentary meals to Israeli soldiers amid the ongoing war. This has led to calls for boycotts and online protests against the international fast-food chain. 

A similar incident occurred on 18th October. Protestors opposing the alleged favoritism of McDonald’s towards Israel reportedly attacked a McDonald’s outlet in Istanbul. Chains in Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt were also vandalized. Furthermore, pro-Gaza supporters staged demonstrations outside McDonald’s across the Muslim world, from Cairo to Malaysia. 

Local franchisees in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon have since distanced themselves from their counterparts in Israel, highlighting that they function independently and have no affiliation with the actions of the Israeli branch. Some of these franchisees have shown support for the cause by making generous contributions directly to the Gaza residents. 

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