Genocide-free’ cola makes a splash in the United Kingdom




Israel-Palestine Conflict: 'Genocide-Free' Cola Makes Waves in the UK
Gaza Cola Offers Boycotters an 'Apartheid-Free' Alternative to Big-Name Brands

By Amy Fallon, Published on November 23, 2024

London, United Kingdom – On a crisp autumn day in Holborn, a lively district in central London known for its restaurants, bookstores, and shops, the Hiba Express is bustling with customers. Above the eatery stands Palestine House, a multistory building designed in the traditional Arabic style, complete with stone walls and a central courtyard featuring a fountain. It serves as a community hub for Palestinians and their supporters.

Osama Qashoo, the charismatic founder of Palestine House, can be found managing the space. With his hair pulled back in a bun and a thick beard that curls impressively at the ends, he is a prominent figure in the local Palestinian community. Though he co-founded Hiba Express in 2012, he stepped back from the restaurant in 2020 to focus on his role at Palestine House.




Inside Hiba Express, the aroma of Palestinian and Lebanese cuisine fills the air. The warm, inviting interior is decorated with tree branches and placards bearing slogans like "From the river to the sea," reflecting the solidarity with Palestine. Diners enjoy classic dishes like halloumi, chickpeas, and falafel, as they sit surrounded by signs of political activism. At the entrance, a doll dressed in a black-and-white keffiyeh sits on a table next to a sign in blood-red ink that reads, “Save the children,” a poignant reminder of the thousands of Palestinian children killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in the past year.