Palestinian athletes announce boycott of Adidas products

Palestinian athletes who have undergone limb amputations as a result of Israeli attacks have officially announced a total boycott of Adidas products. The protest was triggered by the participation of former Israeli soldier Shaliv Biton in the brand's local 'Single Shoe Service' advertising campaign, which is designed for people with prosthetics or those missing a leg.

Shaliv Biton, who lost a leg, previously participated in combat operations in the Gaza Strip in 2021. Palestinian athletes have called on the sports community in Arab and Islamic countries, as well as all concerned people around the world, to support their initiative and stop purchasing goods from this manufacturer.

Footballer Ahmed Abu Nar, who lost his left leg after being shot by an Israeli sniper, described the choice of the advertising campaign's face as a 'deliberate attempt to ignore victims and improve the image of those who committed war crimes against civilians.' He emphasized that the decision to boycott by Palestinian athletes is final.

Hassan Abu Karim, a board member of the Palestinian Amputee Football Association who lost his leg during an Israeli attack in 2006, called the involvement of a former soldier in the advertisement an 'ugly form of racial discrimination.'

Amid the criticism, Adidas issued an apology on its Arabic-language Instagram account. According to the Palestinian side, 73,662 people have been killed and 174,627 injured in the Gaza Strip as a result of attacks since October 2023.

According to estimates by the World Health Organization published in May 2026, between 5,161 and 6,710 amputation cases were recorded in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. In total, about 43,000 residents of the enclave, including approximately 10,000 children, have sustained injuries that could lead to long-term health consequences.

Source: aa.com.tr

Prepared by:Yulduz Salimov