As Ramadan begins, Muslims in Karachi and across Pakistan are being urged to check the source of the dates they buy, ensuring they do not come from Israel.
Social activist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. in his X post warned the citizens that Israeli Medjoul dates have been spotted in local supermarkets in Karachi. Many of these dates are grown in Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land.
Medjoul dates, originally cultivated in Morocco, are also grown in Palestine, Jordan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
However, Israel remains the largest exporter of this variety, with many of its date plantations located in illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land.
Since the war in Gaza escalated, calls for a boycott of Israeli products have intensified in muslim regions.
Activists asked consumers to be careful when purchasing dates, especially during Ramadan.
How to Identify Israeli Dates
To check if a product is from Israel, consumers can look at the barcode. Items made in Israel usually have barcodes starting with “729.”
However, some Israeli dates may be repackaged under different names to hide their origin. Activists suggest checking labels carefully, researching brands online, and choosing dates from Palestine, Jordan, Iran, or Saudi Arabia instead.
Many Pakistanis, in solidarity with Palestine, have vowed to avoid Israeli products. Supermarkets are also being urged to remove Israeli dates from their shelves.
“It is our moral and religious duty to ensure our purchases do not contribute to Palestinian suffering,” Bhutto Jr. said.
