What a M&S: 'Burning Palestine flag' Christmas ad sparks backlash

UK department store giant Marks and Spencer apologised on Wednesday after backlash over an image of Christmas party hats burning in a fire that some social media users said resembled the Palestinian flag.

Tensions are high in the UK and around the world amid the Israeli army's devastating and indiscriminate bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip, which has so far killed over 9,000 people.

M&S said in a statement posted on social media that it had shared a now-removed outtake image from a Christmas advert recorded in August, before the Gaza war began on 7 October.

"It showed traditional, festive-coloured red, green, and silver Christmas paper party hats in a fire grate," the department store chain added.

"While the intent was to playfully show that some people just don't enjoy wearing paper Christmas hats over the festive season, we have removed the post following feedback, and we apologise for any unintentional hurt caused."

The Palestinian flag is composed of horizontal black, white, and green stripes with a red triangle on the left-hand side.

A statement from M&S: pic.twitter.com/3tzJKdZbYW

— M&S (@marksandspencer) November 1, 2023

M&S had posted the Christmas party hat image to Instagram, accompanied by the caption: "This Christmas, do what you love… like saying no to paper hats (although, if we're honest, we're partial)."

Supporters of both Palestine and Israel have sought to advance their narratives on social media with big-name celebrities and politicians weighing in.

Israel has occupied the Palestinian territory since 1967. It has kept control of the Gaza Strip's borders, airspace and territorial waters since withdrawing in 2005 and carried out major aerial assaults on the territory several times over the past 18 years, killing thousands of civilians.

The current war began on 7 October when Hamas and other Palestinian militants based in Gaza crossed into Israel and carried out an attack that killed over 1,400 people following weeks of deadly raids in the West Bank.