The number of businesses in Van that do not sell boycott products has increased.

Many shops and markets in Van do not sell products from companies that directly or indirectly support Israel, which is committing genocide in Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has conducted attacks on the Gaza Strip, home to 2 million people, resulting in numerous deaths, primarily among children. In this context, products from companies that provide direct and indirect support to Israel during the attacks are being boycotted. In Van, market and shop officials protesting the attacks on Gaza have completely shifted to local production by not purchasing products on the boycott list since October 7. Businesses, which continue to trade without harming their sales with local alternative products, report that their revenues have also increased during this process.

On the other hand, businesses that still have some products purchased before October 7 have placed ‘boycott’ labels on them. Business managers stated that these products, which would normally be consumed in a few weeks, have remained on the shelves for months without being sold.

“The boycott has benefited the country”

Speaking to IHA, shopkeeper Uğur Baş stated that they have completely abandoned boycott products. He expressed that while abandoning the boycott, they have also turned to selling local products, saying, “Right now, we are serving with a portfolio of 99% local products. Our local brands are of sufficient quality and high variety. The boycott has benefited the country. For example, we could not find local dishwasher tablets before; now we have 8 brands producing these tablets. We are not only boycotting Israel-focused products. We have removed all goods from companies that declare their support for Israel from our store.”

Baş noted that they have returned to 99% local products as a market, mentioning that they could not consume the foreign brands they had before October 7, and that the public’s sensitivity on this issue is also high.

“Our sales have increased”

Store manager Cesim Gülsaran stated that they have always been on the side of the oppressed people, saying, “If what we can do is a boycott, we are trying to implement it. Except for the product groups we purchased before October 7, we have not bought a single Israeli product since that day. The sustenance comes from God. I say our sales can drop in this situation, but that has not happened. We are aware that our revenue has increased since we started the boycott. You can find an equivalent for every product. We do not experience difficulties in this regard. We should not abandon our local products and turn elsewhere.”