Israel-Hamas war divides McDonald's franchises over free meals for Israeli soldiers

The Israeli restaurants of the company, which were offering free meals to the Israeli military, were criticized by McDonald's franchisees in certain Muslim countries.

This demonstrates how global corporations maneuver through divisive regional politics in times of conflict.

Last week, McDonald's Israel announced on social media that it had provided thousands of Israel Defense Forces members with complimentary lunches. The franchise reiterated on Sunday that it would be providing meals to individuals who are defending the state, hospitals, and the surrounding neighborhoods.

On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas killed almost 1,300 Israelis. Approximately 3,000 people have died in Gaza as a result of Israeli shelling.

Alonyal Ltd. is the owner of McDonald's Israel, per a statement from the business. 

The U.S. fast food chain's franchisees in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey released statements saying they were breaking with the Israeli franchise and, for the most part, offering assistance to Gaza.

The Saudi Arabian franchise of McDonald's released a statement in which they confirmed that their choice to donate meals was personal in response to the news that McDonald's in Israel was doing so. The McDonald's franchise in Saudi Arabia stated that no country, including their own, had any direct or indirect influence over that choice.

Although McDonald's is a worldwide brand, its franchises frequently have local ownership and run independently.

McDonald's Corp. declined to comment, but an Israeli franchise was an independent firm that obtained a license to use the McDonald's brand, according to a person close to the American corporation. According to the source, franchisees frequently help out their local communities when they are in need.