McDonald's Business Impacted by Middle East Conflict and Associated Misinformation

CEO Chris Kempczinski admits boycotts and 'misinformation' about company's stance on Israel-Hamas conflict are affecting operations, particularly in the Middle East.

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski has admitted that the company's business in the Middle East is being affected due to the war between Israel and Hamas and associated 'misinformation' about the fast-food chain’s position on the conflict.
McDonald's, along with other top chains such as Starbucks, have become the target of boycotts over their perceived pro-Israeli stance and alleged financial ties to Israel.
McDonald's Israel had announced on its social media accounts that it had given thousands of free meals to Israel Defense Forces personnel, a move that was later renounced by McDonald's franchises in some Muslim countries.
McDonald's Malaysia sued a pro-Palestinian group for defamation and loss of earnings, accusing it of leading boycotts that led to a loss of profits and job cuts due to closures and shortened operating hours of its outlets.
McDonald's aims to boost its global presence, setting its sights on increasing its number of restaurants around the world by about 8,800 before 2028, bringing its total number of locations to around 50,000.