The so-called “boycott” is a cunning, despicable tool invented by criminals and tyrants to drain Arab and Islamic peoples—and free peoples worldwide—of any real meaning of solidarity and genuine support.

Imagine a man entering the largest stores in Arab countries, those malls overflowing with the finest household goods. His little child goes to grab a bottle of soda from a brand owned by an American or Zionist company. The man yells at his child fiercely, his voice rough and filled with pride and bravery—a voice so loud the mall walls seem to tremble as if the cries of jihad from a battlefield.

He turns to the child, his wife, and everyone around, saying: “Put it back, you son of a dog! This is a boycott! Do you want to pay for the rockets and bombs killing our people in Palestine?”

The poor child returns the bottle, everyone looks at the man with deep respect and admiration, and the man feels a triumphant pride. But the child simply picks up another product—no different in purpose or function—a refreshing, tasty drink that no one can do without after a heavy, greasy meal rich with lamb, stuffed pigeon, or roasted duck.

At that moment, the man is flooded with a fake sense of relief and false comfort. He feels he has fulfilled his duty to Palestine, that he has done his part for Jerusalem and beyond. He has boycotted the products linked to Zionists and now he is free—free from any further responsibility towards Palestine except focusing on his life and family.

This is how the tyrants crafted their cunning, brilliant tools—like drugs that cloud minds. They stole our people’s will to change, draining any desire for refusal or uprising, any urge to release their energy or anger except by avoiding McDonald’s, Pepsi, Lay’s, or Doritos.

Just like Facebook and social media were designed to do.

You hardly see any real movement or valuable engagement on the ground. Everyone is “doing their part” with absolute rigor: not buying American products, period.

This illusion gave the occupiers room to carry out the most horrific massacres in history—without real protest or attention. Gaza was completely destroyed quietly, amidst shameful silence from the Arab and Islamic world.

Everyone “practices” the highest form of solidarity with Al-Aqsa by boycotting KFC and posting on Facebook.

Sadly, these are peoples at the peak of ignorance and superficiality; an occupation at the peak of cunning and deceit; and leaders at the peak of stupidity and arrogance.

One billion Muslims could not even get a single glass of potable water into Gaza without occupation approval. Then you talk to me about the Islamic nation.

Half a billion Arabs failed to aid a woman whose dignity was crushed in front of the entire world’s eyes—her body tattooed with scars and her insides soaked with alcohol—only to be killed alongside her children under the tracks of tanks while still alive.

And then you speak to me about Arab nationalism, that farce which you have beaten into our heads all our lives.

May God curse this cruel world, and may we never see good in it…

There is a whole people being exterminated unjustly… It is Gaza.