A screen grab of the M&S Instagram post, showing red, green and silver Christmas hats burning in a grate. PA
A screen grab of the M&S Instagram post, showing red, green and silver Christmas hats burning in a grate. PA
A screen grab of the M&S Instagram post, showing red, green and silver Christmas hats burning in a grate. PA
A screen grab of the M&S Instagram post, showing red, green and silver Christmas hats burning in a grate. PA

M&S removes image of burning Christmas hats 'in Palestinian colours' after backlash


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Marks & Spencer has apologised and pulled an image showing burning Christmas hats that some people said resembled the colours of the Palestinian flag.

The out-take from the company's Christmas advert, shared on Instagram, showed red, green and silver hats on fire in a fireplace.

Some social media users were critical of the image, amid the escalating Israel-Gaza war, prompting M&S to take it down.

“It showed traditional, festive-coloured red, green and silver Christmas paper hats in a fire grate,” M&S said on X, formerly Twitter.

“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.”

M&S said the filming had taken place in August and that the advert was intended to show people can drop Christmas traditions.

The retailer's Christmas adverts are a staple of the UK festive season and are eagerly awaited by shoppers and TV critics alike.

This year's commercial, called Love Thismas not Thatmas, was released earlier this week.

M&S said intention was to “celebrate and empower our customers to just do the things they love”.

Online critics questioned the sincerity of M&S's apology and some urged them to pull the entire commercial.

One tweeted: "The only thing @marksandspencer is sorry about is being caught in the act. What a shame!"

Others accused M&S of being anti-Christian for burning British Christmas traditions.

The advert includes actresses Zawe Ashton and Hannah Waddingham, and singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Hannah Waddingham appearing in Marks and Spencer's Love Thismas, Not Thatmas festive advertising campaign. PA
Hannah Waddingham appearing in Marks and Spencer's Love Thismas, Not Thatmas festive advertising campaign. PA

The Israel-Gaza war began on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostage.

Since then Israel has hit back with military strikes on Gaza, where more than 9,000 people have been killed, according to its health ministry.

How to wear a kandura

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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

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Date started: March 2019

Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi 

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: AgriTech

Initial investment: None to date

Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs 

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Director:Anthony Hayes

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Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
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Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

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Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
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Updated: November 02, 2023, 12:58 PM`