LONDON, May 4, 2025 – – Co-op members have urged the retailer to stop selling Israeli goods, calling for the board to align its stance on Russia with its response to Israel.
The motion, set to be debated at Co-op’s annual general meeting in June, pushes for the removal of Israeli products from its shelves in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, reported The Telegraph.
The members argue that the retailer could “demonstrate fairness and consistency” in applying its ethical principles, and call for the board to align its ethical sourcing decisions with its stance on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
The motion reads: “The Co-op was the first supermarket to boycott Russian products in March 2022, a week after the invasion of Ukraine. Since October 2023, Israel has completely destroyed Gaza and wiped out its key infrastructure – including schools, hospitals and universities.
“By July 2024, it was estimated that at least 186,000 Gazans – mainly women and children – had died as a result of the bombing, destruction of health facilities, and denial of essential aid.
“We urge the board to show moral courage and leadership, apply the same ethical principles and values it did to Russia, and take all Israeli products off the shelves.”
Citing a ruling from the International Court of Justice that found Israel has “a plausible case to answer” for genocide, the motion draws parallels between Israel and Russia’s conduct.
In response, the Co-op board confirmed it is reviewing its sourcing policies and will share updates this summer.
“We are assessing our policies to ensure they reflect our values and the views of members, in light of geopolitical developments and global supply chain realities,” a spokesperson said.
The convenience giant clarified that it has not sourced products from occupied Palestinian territories since 2007, and also noted that in 2022 it only pulled goods “self-evidently from Russia,” such as vodka brands, due to practical limitations of global supply networks.
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