4 de agosto de 2025

No, Thanks! How to Shop Without Supporting the Occupation

By Esaú López García*

In a world where algorithms silence discourse on justice, No Thanks—a mobile app created by Palestinian engineer Ahmed Bashbash—has become a key tool for ethical consumption. Its aim is to boycott companies that directly or indirectly fund the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

In an interview with Criba, Bashbash revealed the origin of the app: on 31st October 2023, an Israeli airstrike destroyed his home in Gaza, killing his brother. «I studied software engineering; this is my way of resisting», he explains. «In Gaza, not even those prepared to fight can withstand the imbalance of power».

The app identifies and documents companies that invest in Israeli military technology (such as Amazon and Google, partners in the Project Nimbus initiative for the Israeli army); logistically support occupation forces (e.g., McDonald’s, which provides free meals to soldiers while Gaza faces starvation); normalise the occupation (Airbnb and Booking, by renting properties in illegal settlements); publicly endorse Zionism (Netflix, according to corporate statements). Each entry includes verifiable evidence and also highlights products free from ties to the occupation.

The boycott has already begun achieving success. European chains like Co-op (UK) and Coop Alleanza (Italy) have removed Israeli products from their shelves. Even Ben & Jerry’s (owned by Unilever) has spoken out in support of Palestine—though Bashbash maintains the boycott due to the brand’s corporate links.^[1]

No Thanks has had to overcome multiple challenges to gain visibility. Google applied a shadow ban to the app upon its release, yet it still surpassed 30,000 downloads in Mexico, where the issue has gained traction,^[2] and recently exceeded 5 million users, as verified on the Google Play Store.

Bashbash admits that boycotting ubiquitous brands—like Maizena in Mexico—is difficult but insists the goal goes further. The app exposes the corporate monopoly that sustains violence. Among the initiative’s plans is promoting local alternatives, integrating regional options as substitutes for listed brands. No Thanks is not just an app: it’s an act of digital resistance.

If you’re interested in learning which brands support the Palestinian occupation directly or indirectly, this app will be highly useful. Available for both Android and iOS devices, it’s simple to download and requires no registration, so you can start using it immediately.

If you are interested in the Palestinian cause and also want to know which brands directly or indirectly support the occupation, this app will be very useful. Available for both Android and iOS devices, it is easy to download and requires no registration, so you can start using it straight away. On Android devices, open the Play Store, search for “No Thanks,” and tap “Install.” On iPhone, go to the App Store, locate the app, and select “Get.” Within seconds, you’ll have access to a powerful tool. When you open it for the first time, you’ll see a welcome message and five key sections at the bottom:

1. The list: A complete directory of brands organised alphabetically, with verifiable information about their impact.
2. Donations: Helps sustain the project and provides food supplies for the people of Gaza.
3. Scan: A tool that scans barcodes in real time to check if a product is on the list.
4. About the Project: Information about the mission and values behind this initiative.
5. Shop: Products that fund the project while promoting responsible alternatives.

You can explore the list manually and search for brands by name or country (ideal for researching before you buy). Alternatively, to use the scanner feature, simply point it at a product’s barcode (requires internet), and you’ll instantly receive a result backed by reliable sources.

Every action helps keep this tool alive for consumers who value transparency. “No Thanks” is more than an app—it’s a movement to democratise access to critical information about what we consume. Download it and take control of your choices!

^[1] https://x.com/NoThanksBoycott/status/1940810109367865435

^[2] «Denuncian a más de 60 empresas por lucrar con genocidio en Gaza», in La Jornada, July 3rd, 2025, https://www.jornada.com.mx/2025/07/03/mundo/024n1mun. Where can one read about how Palestinians have been used to test new “advancements” in military technology