Zara in hot water after running advert accused of resembling Gaza images

Zara is facing countless calls by customers to boycott the major retail fashion brand after it ran an advertising campaign which many say too closely resembled images from the tragic Israel-Gaza war.

It is not the first major fashion retailer to face backlash over what some people deem to be highly insensitive advertising campaigns. Last month, M&S apologised after it posted a photo on Instagram of Christmas party hats in the colours of the Palestinian flag on fire.

In Zara’s case, it faced harsh criticism and calls for a boycott after it ran a series of images showing a model holding a mannequin wrapped in white plastic. The images from the same campaign features a background of cracked stones, damaged statues and broken plasterboard.

Critics say the images resemble photos that emerged from Gaza following Israel’s bombing of the region in retaliation for the 7th October attack by Hamas. Since the attack by Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless campaign from the ground, air and sea, and is itself facing backlash for limiting the amount of humanitarian aid and supplies getting into Gaza and its civilians.

According to the BBC, the ad campaign was agreed upon in July and shot in September, before the war began. And, photos deemed the most offensive have been pulled off Zara’s socials, however other images from the same campaign remain.