For both individuals and the global community, Gaza Cola is a refreshing option. It combines hope for Palestine with the traditional taste of cola. Every can of Gaza Cola is a symbol of something bigger. It is founded on the principles of justice and freedom and provides a choice free from guilt, apartheid and genocide with the entire profit going to the Palestinian people.
The 250 ml bottle mimics a bright red Coca Cola can but instead it says “Cola Gaza.” It is engraved with the Palestinian flag and the kufiya emblems which are the Palestinians national headdress and a symbol of freedom and struggle.
It should be highlighted that the new product’s taste is identical to that of the classic “cola” drink and it is intended to serve as a substitute for consumers who choose not to purchase the boycotted brand.
One of the new substitutes that will be available in the UK this month is Gaza Cola. Sweden’s Palestine Drinks is an additional option, it was introduced in March and ships to South Africa, the UK and the EU.
Osama Qashoo created Cola Gaza and his main reason is, “To find a guilt-free, genocide-free kind of taste. The real taste of freedom.”
He was a co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in 2001 which is an organisation that opposes and challenges Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory through nonviolent direct action.
Even though it was only a year in the making, Qashoo says that creating Cola Gaza has been a challenge. He stated, “Cola Gaza was a very hard and painful process because I’m not an expert in the drink industry. Every potential partner was suggesting compromise: compromise the colour, compromise the font, compromise the name, compromise the flag. And we said ‘no, we’re not compromising on any of this’.”
His next struggle was finding a place to stock the drink, which is produced in Poland and imported to the UK to save money. He said, “Obviously we can’t get to the big markets because of the politics behind it.”
He started by stocking Cola Gaza in his three restaurants in London where 500,000 cans of the beverage had been sold since its launch in early August.
A six-pack of Cola Gaza costs 12 British pounds ($15) and is also available for purchase online. A six-pack of Coke for example costs roughly 4.70 pounds ($6).
According to Qashoo, every penny made from the beverage will go toward repairing the maternity unit at the al-Karama Hospital which is located northwest of Gaza City.
Gaza Cola, Freedom Of Taste, UK, Palestinian, Profit Aid, Boycotted Brand, guilt free, genocide free.
