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Adidas faces boycott calls over campaign featuring former Israeli soldier
aljazeera.com • • world
Key Points:
- Adidas is facing backlash and boycott calls for featuring former Israeli soldier Shalev Biton, who lost his leg in the 2021 Israel-Gaza conflict, in an ad promoting its single-shoe service for amputees.
- Critics, including the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), argue the campaign normalizes Israeli military actions and is offensive to Palestinians affected by the conflict.
- The World Health Organization reports that 5,000 to 6,000 people in Gaza have undergone amputations due to the conflict, with ongoing humanitarian crises exacerbated by Israel's blockade restricting medical aid and prosthetics.
- Palestinian amputee athletes continue to find solace in sports despite widespread injuries and loss, while prominent activists and celebrities like Javier Bardem have publicly supported the Adidas boycott.
- UNICEF states that 42,000 Palestinians, including 11,000 children, have sustained life-altering injuries since the October 2023 war, highlighting the severe human cost of the conflict.
