Israeli dates are Haram: here’s why and how to boycott them this Ramadan

Israeli dates are one of the country’s main agricultural exports so play a huge part in its economy, with exports worth more than £170 million. Three out of every four of the world’s big juicy Medjool dates come from Israel, and in the UK, which is the country’s second largest market, one in three of the dates we buy come from there.

As 60% of Israel’s dates are grown in illegal settlements, which are built on stolen Palestinian land, it means we are supporting apartheid, as well as the ongoing genocide, and this must change. We all need to play our part to ensure we are not responsible in any way for the many crimes Israel is committing so the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has organised the Boycott Israeli Dates During Ramadan 2025 campaign, and is calling on all Muslims and people of conscience to boycott Israeli dates. 

Israeli dates are Haram

As the biggest consumers of dates in this country – traditionally using them to break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, while also giving dates as gifts, and handing them out in mosques – Muslims have the power to make change. 

Huseyin Ali-Diakides, IHRC’s Campaigns Officer, explains the importance of ethically sourced dates, especially during this deeply spiritual time of year:

It’s depressing, the amount of money Israel makes out of dates during Ramadan. From a religious angle, we would say with the information that’s out there and available to us, that if we break our Ramadan fast with Israeli dates, spending our money on funding the killing of people, and the ethnic cleansing and apartheid, then it takes away from the reward we would get from God – if not invalidate it. 

Although a third of annual date exports by Israeli producers occur during Ramadan, because of the genocide in Gaza and our increasing awareness of the crimes of Zionism, Israel’s date industry is fearing the worst this year, so it important that we keep up the pressure. 

Boycott Israeli-labelled dates

To ensure consumers make the right choices, and can have a clear conscience when it comes to buying dates, IHRC’s Boycott Israeli Dates During Ramadan 2025 campaign suggests we become aware of, and act on, the following:

Clearly labelled Israeli dates

These are labelled as produce of Israel, are easy to identify and should be boycotted. According to Ali-Diakides, most Muslims now check the labels, so would not buy these dates during Ramadan. Common Israeli brands include Hadiklaim, Mehadrin, Jordan River, MTEX, and King Solomon. Often supermarkets own brands are also Israeli dates.

But avoiding Israeli dates is not always as simple as just checking the label, seeing ‘product of Israel’ and then putting the box back on the shelf. Israeli companies are also found in countries such as Morocco, which has normalised trade relations with it. This means that the consumer will be completely unaware that their box of dates or avocados, which has a label saying ‘Produce of Morocco’, is benefiting the Zionist regime.

Boxes with no country of origin or producer on the label are unlawful. Boycott them and complain.

What ones are unlawful?

Unlabelled, and therefore unlawful dates

Israel also hides the origin of the dates it imports into the UK by leaving boxes unlabelled. These dates should also be boycotted. 

Ali-Diakides said:

These unlabelled dates are illegal. By law you have to put the country of origin, where the dates have come from, on the box. But some supermarkets and supply companies are not doing this. The lack of labels will almost definitely be because they are Israeli dates.

Another sign that can suggesting dates may be from Israel is the price. Because the Israeli government supports and subsidises date companies, the price is kept low and they can undercut other producers. In contrast, Palestinian farmers and their land are frequently attacked by settlers and the military, making growing and harvesting of dates extremely difficult and dangerous, and sometimes even impossible. This means genuine Palestinian dates can never match the price of those from Israel.

To mislead consumers, packaging also commonly includes Arabic writing, or even ‘Made in Palestine’, or a picture of a Palestinian flag, but do not have the name of a company, producer or importer printed on the box.

Make sure you notify the shop that these unlabelled boxes are unlawful. Also take photos of the item and complain to your local trading standards office.

Boycott unverified ones

Unverified Palestinian dates

The ‘Made in Palestine’ label is not a guarantee that the dates you are buying are not Israeli occupation dates. Often Israeli companies grow dates in the West Bank and exploit Palestinians, making them work in extremely harsh and often dangerous conditions. These companies then claim the dates are ‘Produced in the West Bank’ or ‘Grown by Palestinian Farmers’, and can legally get away with this. Although there may also be genuine companies which claim their dates are from Palestine, there is no way of knowing this for certain, so IHRC says these should be avoided until verified. 

Only three Palestinian date companies are fully verified, and should be purchased.

Fully verified Palestinian dates

There are currently only three genuine Palestinian date companies which have been thoroughly researched and verified, and had their supply chains fully investigated by Inminds, IHRC’s partner NGO. These are Yaffa, Zaytoun, and Holy Land.

We can all make a difference over Israeli dates – and its apartheid

Ali-Diakides said:

Because it’s Ramadan – a time of sacrifice, a time when we need to put in work for good causes, this is the best time to get through to people, and they are willing to be educated and take some time to do these things. We can buy the genuine Palestinian dates as well as boycotting the Israeli ones. It may seem a small thing, with everything that’s happening out there, but it does play a part, and really does help keep the Palestinian economy going. Israeli boycotts have been very effective, especially in the last year and a half. It’s taken off. People who weren’t really politically aware at all are now boycotting everything linked with Israel, and this needs to continue. 

We can all make a difference, but we need to do more than just checking the label:

• Write to your supermarket demanding they label their dates as the law requires, and urge them to stop selling Israeli dates. The IHRC template letter and supermarket contacts are here.

• Take photos of mislabelled/unlabelled items and inform your local trading standards office. IHRC template letter is here.

• Boycott Israeli dates and support Palestinian farmers by buying either Yaffa, Zaytoun or Holy Land genuine verified Palestinian dates.

• Order free flyers to distribute in mosques and businesses.

• Learn more by watching the IHRC video here.

• Boycott other Israeli products, and also those companies supporting the Israeli military during genocide – including McDonalds, Nestle, Papa Johns, Coca Cola, and Burger King.

Featured image via the Canary