RAMALLAH, May 10, 2017 (WAFA) – Pizza Hut international restaurants chain Wednesday apologized for an Israeli affiliate post mocking highly popular Palestinian figure, Marwan Barghouti, who has been leading a mass hunger strike in Israeli prisons since April 17.

In a public apology posted on its Facebook page, Pizza Hut apologized for the “completely inappropriate” advertisement that was initially published on the official Facebook page for Pizza Hut Israel before being removed.

“Pizza Hut International apologizes for any offence caused by a recent post on Pizza Hut Israel’s Facebook page. It was completely inappropriate and does not reflect the values of our brand. The local franchisee in the country removed it immediately and the relationship with the agency that posted it was terminated, and we truly regret any hurt this may have caused,” it said.

Pizza Hut Israel posted a screenshot from a video footage released by Israel Prisons Service (IPS) allegedly showing Barghouti breaking his strike with cookies and what looks like a candy bar.

Pizza Hut Israel photo-shopped a pizza box lying on the floor in Barghouti’s prison cell, and a slice of pizza in the sink, with a banner in Hebrew saying: “Barghouti, if you are going to break the strike, wouldn’t you prefer pizza?”

The post, which was later removed, sparked fury on Palestinian social media and among supporters of hunger strikers, triggering calls for boycotting the international franchise.

Pizza Hut has outlets in several Palestinian cities as well as dozens across the Middle East.

K.F./M.K.