Starbucks has closed 50 branches in Malaysia due to the ongoing boycott against Israel

The Malaysian boycott against Israel has forced Starbucks to temporarily close 50 of its 408 stores in the country. The company's sales halved, and it lost $20.5 million in the first half of the year.

According to Malaysia's The Rakyat Post, Starbucks has temporarily closed 50 of its 408 stores nationwide. The reason for these closures, although not directly acknowledged, is related to the ongoing Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip.

Berjaya Food, which operates the popular American coffee chain in Malaysia, said in a report in late August that it had "significantly reduced revenue in the current quarter, with a pre-tax loss mainly due to current sentiment regarding the conflict in the Middle East".

Berjaya Food reported a net loss of 38.2 million ringgit (US$8.6 million) for the second quarter ended in June, with sales more than halving, and a half-year net loss of $20.5 million.

According to the company, no employees were harmed by the temporary closure of the stores, they were transferred to other operating branches.