SRINAGAR: As Ramadan begins, shopkeepers across Kashmir have launched a boycott of Israeli dates, expressing their solidarity with Palestine. The decision, driven by opposition to Israel’s occupation and treatment of Palestinians, has led traders to stock alternatives from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco, and Algeria.
The boycott, initially subtle, has gained significant traction, with markets in Srinagar and other parts of the valley witnessing a shift in consumer preferences. Traders who once sold Israeli dates have replaced them with West Asian varieties, responding to growing public sentiment against products linked to Israel.
“The markets of Kashmir are always lively during Ramadan, but this year, conversations revolve around rejecting Israeli goods,” said a shopkeeper from Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, reported the Kashmiri Times. “Customers specifically ask for dates from other countries, refusing to buy Israeli products.”
For many shopkeepers, the boycott is not just a commercial decision but a moral stance. Umar Mehraj, a trader in Maharaja Bazar, emphasized the emotional connection Kashmiris feel with the Palestinian cause. “Whenever I see news about Palestine, especially the suffering of children, it breaks my heart. This boycott is a small step, but it is something we can do,” he said.
Ibrahim Beigh, owner of Dry N Delicious in Srinagar’s Khanyar area, has also stopped selling Israeli dates. “I ensure that 95% of my stock comes from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Morocco,” he said. “Boycotting Israeli products is important, but real solidarity also means donating to Palestinian charities and providing humanitarian aid.”
Shopkeepers highlight the economic factors that enable Israeli dates to dominate global markets. “Most Israeli dates are grown on occupied Palestinian land and rebranded to evade boycotts,” Ibrahim explained. “They are cheaper due to government subsidies and advanced irrigation, making them harder to distinguish from other varieties.”
For Kashmiris, the boycott is deeply personal, reflecting their own experiences with conflict and oppression. “Our struggles have parallels with Palestine, which is why this issue resonates so strongly here,” said an elderly resident.
With the latest escalation in Gaza pushing the Palestinian death toll past 50,000 since October 7, 2023, the solidarity movement in Kashmir has only strengthened. Across Srinagar’s bustling markets, Israeli dates remain absent from shelves—an act of resistance that shopkeepers believe sends a strong message of support for Palestine.
