As the blessed month of Ramadan approaches, Muslims across the world prepare to break their fast with dates, a practice rooted firmly in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The date is not merely food. It is part of a sacred tradition.
Yet many of the Medjool dates found in global supermarkets are directly linked to Israeli settlements built on illegally occupied Palestinian land. These dates are cultivated on confiscated farmland, irrigated with diverted Palestinian water, and in many cases produced through the exploitation of Palestinian labour.
As conscious consumers, Muslims must remain vigilant. Purchasing Israeli dates risks directly supporting an occupation built on dispossession, settlement expansion, and economic domination. Israeli exporters frequently obscure the true origin of their products, mislabelling them to bypass scrutiny. This Ramadan, solidarity with Palestine begins at the checkout.
How the Israeli Date Industry Profits From Occupation
Illegal Settlements and Stolen Land
A significant proportion of Israeli date exports originate from settlements in the occupied West Bank. These settlements are considered illegal under international law. Palestinian communities are displaced, and their agricultural land is seized for commercial gain.
Exploitation of Palestinian Labour
Palestinian workers, including minors in some documented cases, are employed under harsh conditions for extremely low wages on settlement date farms. Economic restrictions imposed by the occupation leave many Palestinians with little alternative employment.
Water Appropriation and Environmental Harm
Water from West Bank aquifers is diverted to irrigate large scale date plantations operated by Israeli companies. Meanwhile, Palestinian farmers face severe water restrictions that limit their own agricultural production and sustainability.
Mislabelled and Deceptive Marketing
Israeli date exporters frequently remove country of origin labels or rebrand their products in ways that obscure links to settlements. Some products are marketed ambiguously to avoid consumer backlash, particularly during Ramadan when ethical purchasing becomes more prominent among Muslim communities.
Israeli Date Brands to Avoid
To prevent unintentionally supporting settlement industries, consumers are advised to avoid purchasing dates from the following brands and exporters associated with Israeli production or settlement agriculture:
• Mehadrin
• Sincerely Nuts
• Anna Sarah
• Medjool Plus MP
• Urban Platter
• King Solomon Dates
• Hadiklaim
• Food to Live
• Jordan River Dates
• Paradise Dates
• Edeka
• Carmel Agrexco
• Galilee Dates
• Ventura Dates
• Star Dates
• Delilah Dates
Before purchasing, carefully inspect packaging and verify the brand’s origin. If the country of origin is unclear, seek clarification.
Practical Steps to Take This Ramadan
Educate Your Community
Many Muslims remain unaware that some Medjool dates on supermarket shelves are sourced from settlement farms. Share verified information within your family, mosque, and local networks.
Speak to Retailers
Engage with local grocery stores and Islamic supermarkets. Encourage them to source dates from Palestinian farmers or from countries unconnected to the occupation.
Support Ethical Alternatives
Palestinian date producers, particularly in Jericho and the Jordan Valley, rely on fair trade exports to sustain their communities under severe economic restrictions. Choosing ethical suppliers strengthens Palestinian resilience.
Raise Awareness Online
Use the hashtag #CheckTheDate to promote consumer awareness and encourage ethical Ramadan purchasing decisions.
Make Your Ramadan Purchases Count
Ramadan is a month of worship, reflection, and moral clarity. It is also a month in which our financial choices carry spiritual weight. Breaking the fast with dates linked to land confiscation and labour exploitation contradicts the spirit of justice embedded within Islamic ethics.
Boycotting Israeli settlement dates is a peaceful, consumer-driven action. Every purchase is a position. Every label matters.
This Ramadan, ensure your iftar honours the Sunnah and upholds justice.
Choose responsibly. Stand with Palestine. #CheckTheDate
