Fashion company Zara expressed regret on Tuesday over the “misunderstanding” caused by an advertising campaign featuring models with missing limbs and statues wrapped in white. The campaign sparked outrage among Palestinian supporters who perceived it as reminiscent of casualties in Gaza.
Zara stated on their Instagram account, “Unfortunately, some customers were upset by these images, which have now been removed. They saw something far from the intended message at the time of production.”
Critics argued that the images resembled bodies wrapped in white shrouds, akin to those in Gaza. Zara’s Instagram account received tens of thousands of comments about the pictures, many of which included Palestinian flags.
Zara further commented, “Zara regrets this misunderstanding and reaffirms our deep respect for everyone.” The company also removed six posts related to the campaign from its Instagram page.
Initially launched on December 7, the company claimed the campaign was inspired by men’s tailoring from past centuries.
The Gaza war has seen a tragic loss of life. As of the latest reports, at least 18,205 people have been killed in Gaza, including at least 7,729 children and 5,153 women. Additionally, at least 49,645 people have been injured, with 8,663 children and 6,327 women among them. In the occupied West Bank, at least 279 people have been killed, including 63 children, and more than 3,365 have been injured. In Israel, the death toll is approximately 1,147, with at least 8,730 injured.
UNRWA previously reported that about 1.9 million people, or 85% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced, and its shelters are operating at four times over capacity. Over half of Gaza’s homes, totaling around 305,000 residential units, have been destroyed or damaged. Additionally, 339 educational facilities and 167 places of worship have been damaged, and 26 out of 35 hospitals are not functioning.
Zara’s controversial ad campaign appeared to be inadvertently evoking imagery associated with the conflict in Gaza, particularly the casualties and destruction there. This led to significant backlash and calls for boycotts, prompting Zara to withdraw the campaign and issue an apology. The incident highlights the sensitivities around the portrayal and representation of such a deeply contentious and painful subject in international media and advertising.
