A Palestinian pizzeria was demolished by Israeli forces after it used an image of a kidnapped grandmother in a distasteful advertisement.
The pizzeria, located in the West Bank town of Huwara, was razed to the ground as a bulldozer tore through the building, a scene captured in a video that has since circulated widely.
The order for the demolition was issued by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) central command. The controversial advert featured an image of an elderly woman who had been kidnapped by terrorists during a Hamas attack on Israel a week prior.
The image was placed next to a photo of a pizza, seemingly mocking the traumatic event and the victim’s plight.
A Palestinian Pizzeria in Huwara (Samaria) posted a photo of an elderly Israeli hostage to promote and sell their Pizza.
The result: the IDF came and destroyed their business.
If you support ISIS (Hamas), this is what you get. #Hamas_is_ISIS pic.twitter.com/uxMCm494Db
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) October 13, 2023
The owner of the restaurant had previously been arrested for allegedly throwing a rock at an Israeli settler, although the charges were later dropped.
Following the backlash, the Eiffel Bakery and Supermarket, which owns the pizzeria, issued an apology on Facebook, claiming they were unaware of the source of the photograph.
The apology read, “We are very sorry for the picture that was uploaded. We are against harming people and women and just want to make a living with dignity and live in peace with everyone.”
However, the damage had already been done, and the insensitive ad had already caused significant distress and outrage.
This incident comes amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. More than 150 people were taken captive when Hamas launched its surprise attack on October 7, according to Israeli reports.
"Fuck around, find out" del giorno: una pizzeria palestinese prende in giro l'anziana signora sequestrata da Hamas.
La pizzeria viene demolita. Qui il video, segue foto. pic.twitter.com/mBOwguxIog— LupoDiGubbio (@LDGubbio) October 12, 2023
Images of Israeli pensioners being taken into the Gaza Strip and families forced into trucks have shocked the world.
The destruction of the pizzeria serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of insensitivity and disrespect during times of conflict. It is a testament to the IDF’s commitment to protecting its citizens and upholding justice, even in the face of ongoing hostilities.
While the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians continues to rage on, it is crucial that respect for human dignity and life remains paramount. Mocking victims of violence only serves to fuel the flames of hatred and division.
