Clothing retailer Zara faces backlash over controversial ad

Clothing retailer Zara has come under fire for an advertisement that has sparked outrage on social media. The ad, which has since been pulled, featured a model holding a mannequin wrapped in white cloth. Many social media users pointed out that the image resembled recent images of dead children in Gaza during the Israel and Hamas war, leading to calls for a boycott of the brand.

On various social media platforms, users expressed their disgust and disappointment with the ad, labeling it as "tasteless" and "horrendous." The hashtag #BoycottZara quickly gained traction, with many sharing videos of protesters at Zara stores. In one video, protesters can be seen holding what appear to be fake babies wrapped in white cloth, mimicking the images from Gaza that they believe Zara imitated. Another video shows a Zara store in Montreal that has been vandalized, with the word "Gaza" spray painted in red across its doors.

Protests also took place outside a Zara store in Tunisia, as shown in a video obtained by Reuters.

The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority, responsible for regulating advertisements, has received complaints about the controversial ad, according to BBC News. CBS News is currently seeking confirmation on whether the authority has engaged in discussions with Zara regarding the matter.

In a statement on Instagram, Zara said the campaign was "conceived in July and photographed in September."

The Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas, a terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a massive and deadly attack on Israel, taking hundreds of hostages.

Zara said the campaign, called "The Jacket," presents "a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor's studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context."

"Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created," according to the company's statement. "Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone."

Thousands have been killed in both Israel and Gaza and last month, Israel temporarily halted its attack on Gaza in exchange for hostages, but the fighting has since resumed and hopes for a cease-fire have faded.