Boycott campaigns over Gaza war hit Western brands

CAIRO: Midway through a recent evening in Cairo, a worker cleaned tables in an empty McDonald’s restaurant. Branches of other Western fast-food chains in the Egyptian capital also appeared deserted. All have been hit by a boycott campaign over Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Western brands are feeling the impact in Egypt and Jordan, and there are signs the campaign is spreading in some other Arab countries including Kuwait and Morocco.