Chicago cafe owner claims boycott of business over support for Palestine

By Ayse Betul Akcesme

CHICAGO, US (AA) - Hani Mahfouz, a Palestinian-American who owns a cafe in Chicago, says his business has been targeted due to his vocal support for Palestine, affecting sales.

Mahfouz told Anadolu he is deeply affected by Israeli attacks in Gaza last October, which have killed nearly 34,000 Palestinians and caused conditions of famine.

"Seeing little kids being pulled out of rubble and being targeted by snipers and bombs consistently left me with no choice but to speak out," he said.

As one of the few Palestinian business owners in the area, Mahfouz noticed a decline in his business following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, attributing it partly to his activism.

He said he saw a significant drop in business, roughly around $20,000 per month, based on a comparison between the six months before and the six months after October.

"Even if it was happening to any other group of people, I would speak out the same way," he said, adding that he remains resolute in advocating for the Palestinians.

Asked about the forthcoming US presidential election, a contest between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Mahfouz criticized both candidates. He expressed disillusionment with Biden and the Democrats for their perceived hostility towards Muslims, Arabs, and Palestinians. "We will punish them through the election this year," he said.

Reflecting on Trump's presidency, Mahfouz said Palestinians felt safer under his administration compared to Biden's. "Some people might disagree with me because they're anti-Trump but we didn't have war, a conflict under his administration. It was somewhat of a safer world for us as Palestinians than it is now," he said.

He also censured the US for "enabling" Israel's aggression through arms sales and political support.

*Writing by Muhammed Yasin Gungor in Istanbul