McDonald's has stated that it is not supporting or funding any government in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Getty
McDonald's has stated that it is not supporting or funding any government in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Getty
McDonald's has stated that it is not supporting or funding any government in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Getty
McDonald's has stated that it is not supporting or funding any government in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Getty

McDonald's rejects 'disinformation' over stance on Gaza conflict


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Global fast food chain McDonald's has rejected “inaccurate reports” over its position on the Gaza crisis, after one of its franchises in Israel claimed to have offered thousands of free meals to Israeli soldiers.

McDonald's Corporation on Thursday shared a statement on the social media pages of several of its operators in the Middle East – including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait – affirming that it was “not funding or supporting any governments in this conflict”.

It said the actions of “local development licensees” were made without its “consent or approval”.

The response comes after the Israeli operator of the international restaurant last month said it had donated tens of thousands of meals to the military, as well as police, hospitals and residents.

A large number of McDonald's outlets outside the US are run by local operators, known as franchisees, who act as independent businesses.

“We are dismayed by the disinformation and inaccurate reports regarding our position in response to the conflict in the Middle East,” McDonald's Corporation said on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.

“McDonald's Corporation is not funding or supporting any governments involved in this conflict, and any actions from our local development licensee business partners were made independently without McDonald's consent or approval.

“Our hearts are with all of the communities and families impacted by this crisis. We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our people in the region while supporting the communities where we operate.”

The statement posted on the Instagram page of McDonald's in the UAE has garnered more than 1,300 responses.

Many replying to the post said they were boycotting McDonald's due to the recent controversy.

The Kuwaiti operator of McDonald's – Al Maousherji Catering Company – posted its own statement on its McDonald's-branded social media channels.

“We at Al Maousherji Catering Company … reaffirm that we stand firmly with Palestine and our brothers and sisters in Gaza.

“We do not accept any questioning of our Arab identity and we, once again, affirm that we respect and uphold the values of our nation and our community.”

It said it had donated funds to the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society and national air bridge relief efforts.

  • A girl is rescued from the rubble of a building destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip. AP Photo
    A girl is rescued from the rubble of a building destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip. AP Photo
  • An Apache helicopter fires flares, seen from Sderot in southern Israel, close to the border with Gaza. Reuters
    An Apache helicopter fires flares, seen from Sderot in southern Israel, close to the border with Gaza. Reuters
  • Palestinians plug their phones into portable charging stations on a street in Khan Younis, Gaza. Bloomberg
    Palestinians plug their phones into portable charging stations on a street in Khan Younis, Gaza. Bloomberg
  • Residents search survivors among the rubble following Israeli strikes on Jabalia, northern Gaza. EPA
    Residents search survivors among the rubble following Israeli strikes on Jabalia, northern Gaza. EPA
  • Palestinians search for survivors and bodies following Israeli airstrikes at the Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza. AP
    Palestinians search for survivors and bodies following Israeli airstrikes at the Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza. AP
  • Palestinians look for survivors among the rubble of destroyed buildings following Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. AP
    Palestinians look for survivors among the rubble of destroyed buildings following Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. AP
  • Palestinians look for survivors among the rubble of destroyed buildings following Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. AP
    Palestinians look for survivors among the rubble of destroyed buildings following Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. AP
  • A fire burns in western Gaza after an Israeli air strike. Reuters
    A fire burns in western Gaza after an Israeli air strike. Reuters
  • Missiles are fired from Israel towards the Gaza Strip. Getty Images
    Missiles are fired from Israel towards the Gaza Strip. Getty Images
  • Smoke rises from an explosion in Gaza. Getty Images
    Smoke rises from an explosion in Gaza. Getty Images
  • A group of men survey the destruction following air strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city, as Israeli forces entered the northern area of the Gaza Strip. AFP
    A group of men survey the destruction following air strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city, as Israeli forces entered the northern area of the Gaza Strip. AFP
  • A man drives a damaged car following air strikes on Gaza city. AFP
    A man drives a damaged car following air strikes on Gaza city. AFP
  • A man pushes a bicycle past the remains of buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
    A man pushes a bicycle past the remains of buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
  • A woman and children walk past a house destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
    A woman and children walk past a house destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
  • People dig through the rubble of a destroyed building following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
    People dig through the rubble of a destroyed building following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
  • A man drives a damaged car past a building destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
    A man drives a damaged car past a building destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
  • People gather amid the destruction following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
    People gather amid the destruction following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
  • Wrecked vehicles and rubble on the streets following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
    Wrecked vehicles and rubble on the streets following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP
  • Smoke rises from the northern Gaza Strip as Israeli air and ground forces amplified their military activities against Hamas. EPA
    Smoke rises from the northern Gaza Strip as Israeli air and ground forces amplified their military activities against Hamas. EPA
  • An Israeli Apache attack helicopter flies close to the border with the Gaza Strip, near Israel's southern city of Ashkelon. AFP
    An Israeli Apache attack helicopter flies close to the border with the Gaza Strip, near Israel's southern city of Ashkelon. AFP
  • Israeli soldiers in an armoured personnel carrier on patrol near Israel's border with Gaza. EPA
    Israeli soldiers in an armoured personnel carrier on patrol near Israel's border with Gaza. EPA
  • The crew of an Israeli tank prepare for ground operations near the border with Gaza. EPA
    The crew of an Israeli tank prepare for ground operations near the border with Gaza. EPA
  • Israeli soldiers prepare for ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location in Israel near the border with Gaza. EPA
    Israeli soldiers prepare for ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location in Israel near the border with Gaza. EPA
  • The ruins of northern Gaza seen from Sderot in southern Israel. EPA
    The ruins of northern Gaza seen from Sderot in southern Israel. EPA
  • Smoke and explosions caused by Israeli bombardment over northern Gaza. AP Photo
    Smoke and explosions caused by Israeli bombardment over northern Gaza. AP Photo
  • An explosion on the Israel-Gaza border. Reuters
    An explosion on the Israel-Gaza border. Reuters
  • A video grab shows fireballs and smoke rising above Gaza city following an Israeli attack. AFP
    A video grab shows fireballs and smoke rising above Gaza city following an Israeli attack. AFP
  • An explosion in Gaza seen from Sderot in southern Israel. Reuters
    An explosion in Gaza seen from Sderot in southern Israel. Reuters
  • A video grab shows rockets fired from Gaza city. AFP
    A video grab shows rockets fired from Gaza city. AFP
  • Israeli air strikes in the northern Gaza Strip. AP Photo
    Israeli air strikes in the northern Gaza Strip. AP Photo
  • A video grab shows a salvo of rockets fired from Gaza city. AFP
    A video grab shows a salvo of rockets fired from Gaza city. AFP
  • A flare trail fired by the Israeli army east of Khan Younis on the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
    A flare trail fired by the Israeli army east of Khan Younis on the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
  • Smoke from the bombing of the Gaza Strip over the Israeli border city of Ashkelon. AFP
    Smoke from the bombing of the Gaza Strip over the Israeli border city of Ashkelon. AFP
  • Flares over Gaza as seen from Sderot in southern Israel. Reuters
    Flares over Gaza as seen from Sderot in southern Israel. Reuters

Humanitarian crisis worsens

More than 9,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war broke out on October, with an estimated 1.4 million displaced.

The UAE has joined other Arab nations in calling for an immediate ceasefire to protect innocent lives.

The Emirates has strongly condemned Israeli air strikes on a Gazan refugee camp, in which hundreds of people were killed or wounded.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “indiscriminate attacks” would lead to “irreparable damage” for the region, following the deadly assault on Jabalia refugee camp in the northern part of the enclave on Tuesday evening.

Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community

• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style

“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.

Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term. 

From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”

• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International

"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed.  Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."

• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."

• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com

"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.

His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.

Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."

• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher

"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen.  He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”

• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."

Other key dates
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The biog

Name: Sarah Al Senaani

Age: 35

Martial status: Married with three children - aged 8, 6 and 2

Education: Masters of arts in cultural communication and tourism

Favourite movie: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

Favourite hobbies: Art and horseback ridding

Occupation: Communication specialist at a government agency and the owner of Atelier

Favourite cuisine: Definitely Emirati - harees is my favourite dish

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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

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Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

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UPI facts

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