Middle East Starbucks cuts 2,000 workers amid Gaza war boycotts

Starbucks' Middle East franchisee is laying off roughly 2,000 workers at its restaurants throughout the region as it grapples with ongoing boycotts of the brand over the Israel-Hamas war. 

The Starbucks operator cited business conditions as behind its decision to fire just over 10% of its workforce in its Middle Eastern and North African locations. 

"As a result of the continually challenging trading conditions over the last six months, we have taken the very sad and very difficult decision to reduce the number of colleagues" in Starbucks stores in the region, the Kuwait-based family business, Alshaya Group, told the Associated Press.