AhlulBayt News Agency: Osama Qashu’a, a filmmaker and human rights activist, launched “Gaza Cola” in London as an alternative to products that support the Israeli occupation, aiming to use the profits to rebuild Al-Karama Hospital, which was completely destroyed in northern Gaza.
Qashu’a told the British newspaper The Guardian on Wednesday that the hospital, like other health facilities in Gaza, was destroyed “without any justified reason.” He explained that his choice of Al-Karama Hospital was due to its small size and the relative ease of rebuilding it in terms of cost and management. Although he could not specify the required amount or the timeline for completing the project, he affirmed that dreaming is the only way to continue, saying, “We must dream in order to live.”
Qashu’a noted that he has already begun planning to equip the hospital with the best medical equipment and designs, but pointed out that the current phase is limited to establishing a temporary field hospital using humanitarian aid tents as shelter.
The idea of “Gaza Cola” emerged in November 2023, with the red can featuring the Palestinian flag and the phrase “Gaza Cola” in Arabic script, along with a design inspired by the Palestinian keffiyeh.
Qashu’a considered this project to be more than just a soft drink; it is a message to major companies investing in the arms trade. He stated, “We ask them a question about dignity: Do you realize what your money is doing? It destroys homes and the environment and contributes to the extermination of our people. It is time to recognize the extent of the damage caused by these investments.”
Osama Qashu’a is known as a prominent supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. In 2001, he co-founded the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and participated in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in 2010.
Originally from Nablus in the West Bank, Qashu’a has lived in Britain for more than 18 years after being forced to flee Palestine due to injuries, arrests, and torture at the hands of the occupying forces.
Last year, Qashu’a opened “Palestine House” in central London, a political and cultural center that allows Palestinians to express their identity unapologetically and welcomes supporters of their cause.
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Qashu’a told the British newspaper The Guardian on Wednesday that the hospital, like other health facilities in Gaza, was destroyed “without any justified reason.” He explained that his choice of Al-Karama Hospital was due to its small size and the relative ease of rebuilding it in terms of cost and management. Although he could not specify the required amount or the timeline for completing the project, he affirmed that dreaming is the only way to continue, saying, “We must dream in order to live.”
Qashu’a noted that he has already begun planning to equip the hospital with the best medical equipment and designs, but pointed out that the current phase is limited to establishing a temporary field hospital using humanitarian aid tents as shelter.
The idea of “Gaza Cola” emerged in November 2023, with the red can featuring the Palestinian flag and the phrase “Gaza Cola” in Arabic script, along with a design inspired by the Palestinian keffiyeh.
Qashu’a considered this project to be more than just a soft drink; it is a message to major companies investing in the arms trade. He stated, “We ask them a question about dignity: Do you realize what your money is doing? It destroys homes and the environment and contributes to the extermination of our people. It is time to recognize the extent of the damage caused by these investments.”
Osama Qashu’a is known as a prominent supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. In 2001, he co-founded the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and participated in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in 2010.
Originally from Nablus in the West Bank, Qashu’a has lived in Britain for more than 18 years after being forced to flee Palestine due to injuries, arrests, and torture at the hands of the occupying forces.
Last year, Qashu’a opened “Palestine House” in central London, a political and cultural center that allows Palestinians to express their identity unapologetically and welcomes supporters of their cause.
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