Porcelain is sold in favor of Gaza – here the bluff is discovered

The war in Gaza has been going on for over a year and a half. Many people follow it through social media, which are filled with more terrible pictures of dead and mutilated people and hungry, homeless children every day.

When the algorithm has learned that the user sees the Palestinian suffering, the online stores’ advertising will come in combat stream. Buy sweaters in support of Palestine! Buy spices, olive oil and shawls made by Palestinians! Buy genuine Palestinian porcelain from Hebron – 100 percent of the profits go directly to the needy in Gaza.

Hebron on the West Bank is often described as the absolute worst example of what Israeli occupation looks like. Here are the settlements inside the city center, divide the city in the middle and the Palestinian part is often suspended by Israeli soldiers.

« That bowl is ours. And that one »

One of the online stores that raises money for Gaza claims to have a collaboration with a specific factory. In January, it got its entire layer broken by Israeli soldiers.

« We have talked to our partners in Hebron and they say they do not want us to start a collection for their sake. They want you to buy their products from us, because all profits go directly to Gaza. It is the best way we can support them, » says the webshop based in Denmark in a post on Instagram, where they show film clips.

They also state that they have collected the equivalent of one million Swedish kronor « to Palestine » so far.

Several of the roadblocks In to Hebron are closed, but after driving several detours past soldiers armed with automatic weapons we find one that is open and goes to the main street Jerusalem Street, where the porcelain factories are in a row.

The first is owned by the Natsheh family. It has not been broken, but when the shop assistant examines the porcelain that is sold in the current webshop, he recognizes several products.

– That bowl is ours. And that one. Although they are ten times more expensive on that site, he says.

Hamzeh Natsheh is one of the owners of the family business that has been inherited since the 19th century. The porcelain is hand painted and it is therefore easy for each company to recognize their own products, even if they look very similar to a layman.

When he sees the site, he sighs deeply.

– « All profits go to Gaza »? Many people try to use us for political purposes, I’m so tired of it, he says.

Just a week ago, he terminated the collaboration with a French dealer.

– She did the same thing, claiming that it was some kind of charity to sell our porcelain. We are a company! We don’t need any charity! says Hamzeh Natsheh.

It was not his factory that was broken. Hamzeh Natsheh points us in the right direction to find the affected factory. It is just a few hundred meters further down the street.

Inside Gaith’s porcelain and glass, the whole family, including the two brothers, is the main owner, and painting ceramics. First, the pattern is drawn, then it is colored in bright colors. Khalef Gaith, one owner, focuses on the black and white pattern that mimics a Palestinian Keffiyeh, the classic shawl.

– Denmark? We export to Germany, that’s the only country in Europe, he says.

Confusion arises When DN shows the site with the webshop. The Gaith family, just like the Natsheh family, recognizes some of their products. But far from everyone. When they see that the man behind the webshop has shared movie clips on the devastation after Israeli soldiers entered the store, the confusion goes to anger.

– I have filmed that! But I haven’t sent the movie to any Danish, says Luay Gaith.

A younger family member with good fingers quickly buttons a number to the Danish in question. Khalef Gaith demands to get the phone when he responds and launches a long call in Arabic.

– You take advantage of the name of our factory and tell you gather donations for Gaza! Do you understand what problems we can have with the authorities? We have enough problems with our lives. I have already lost a close relative, we have two others in prison, and our factory was crushed by the occupation. You, my brother, cause me a lot of pain, says Khalf Gaith on the phone.

The Danish man excesses himself and sounds remorseful when he tries to explain.

– I work in God’s name, I don’t even get a penny. I got the video from Palestine with the call to use it. I can remove it right away. I had no idea, says the man.

Khalf Gaith concludes by pointing out that prices are huge in the man’s store and that he should be ashamed.

It is sensitive on the West Bank to proclaim its support for Gaza – and even more to show resistance to the Israeli occupation. Arbitrary arrests are increasingly happening since October 7, 2023, in some cases it has been enough that you have liked a post in social media that criticizes Israel. In Hebron it is extra sensitive. The settlers in the city center are mentioned for their aggressiveness and the soldiers in the area are known to protect the settlers’ progress.

– It is clear that we feel Gaza. But our porcelain has nothing to do with Gaza, says Khalf Gaith.

The Danish man During the conversation, has stated a name for a factory he has had contact with. It is also located on the same street and when we get there we meet a man who has actually heard of the Danish shop.

– Yes … his porcelain comes from here, but they can’t produce enough, so I’ve been around the other factories and bought on me to supplement, says the man who says he’s hot Abdullah.

He has worked for a long time for various aid organizations and sighs a bit when we mention this with « 100 percent of the profit » going to Gaza.

– That’s why no profit has gone anywhere. I have tried to explain to him that it is impossible to donate money without some costs, but he refuses to listen, says Abdullah.

He was recently in Denmark and had a meeting with representatives of the online store.

– No money has so far gone somewhere, they remain in Denmark. He would prefer to build a school in Gaza to be named after him and which you know no one can build anything right now, says Abdullah.

The webshop is Danish, but it also has a Swedish URL and among the reviews from buyers are several Swedes. What all customers have in common is that they think they have bought porcelain from Gaith’s factory in Hebron and that they have thus supported Gaza while receiving beautiful objects for their homes.

But in most cases they have received products from a completely different factory. And no support has so far gone to Gaza.

– If you really Want to be sure that the money will be useful is the best to give to established organizations with documented operations in Palestine. It is not easy to get help and therefore it is important to make sure that there is a history that shows that the organization in question has succeeded before, says Charlotte Rydh.

She is Secretary General at Giva Sweden, an industry organization for safe rewarding. One thing that should raise suspicion is, according to Rydh, when an organization or initiative claims to give « 100 percent ».

– Whatever you do, a hundred percent will never go to the purpose. It gets so wrong to write it, because then you give it that the whole money goes to Palestine and it is never. Then, of course, the majority, 75-80 percent, should be used for the purpose.

Charlotte Rydh also points to other risks of giving money to her own initiative or acting for charity by private actors.

– You have to take into account the risk that there is fraud or financing of things you do not intend to finance. In the long run, there is also the risk of serious organizations being affected. That confidence is eroded to those who really make a difference.

DN has sought the Danish man. He asked for questions via email and then did not return. The movie clip with broken porcelain has been erased, but the collection continues.