Registry · NKE
Does Nike support Israel?
Nike, Inc.
Nike does business in Israel — we found records of its operations there, but no record of donations, aid, or a public statement of support. Every claim below links to its source.
Filed under: Fashion & apparel brands · Companies that support Israel
Background
No corporate donations, public statements, or other support for Israel are on record for Nike. A week after the October 7, 2023 attack, CEO John Donahoe sent an internal company-wide email mourning the "horrific attacks in Israel" and the tragic loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives — a neutral internal message, not a public pro-Israel statement; Bloomberg reported some Jewish employees were disappointed it did not name Hamas, and that a company-arranged fundraiser was designated for organizations in Gaza. In October 2021 Nike notified independent Israeli retailers it would stop supplying them from May 31, 2022, as part of its global shift to direct-to-consumer sales — a business decision, not a boycott; Nike products remained available in Israel through Nike-branded stores and digital channels. A viral March 2024 video claiming Nike designed pro-Israel Star-of-David sneakers was debunked: the customized shoes were not made by Nike.
Jerusalem Post The Forward Check Your Fact Crain's New York Business (AP)
Documented records
| Type | Date | Amount | Recipient | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchisee action | 2025-04 | — | — Nike-branded retail in Israel is run by a franchise partner, not by Nike itself. Retailors Ltd., which ice describes as the holder of the Nike franchise in Israel, owns the NIKE RISE flagship of about 740 m² that opened at the Ofer Rehovot mall in April 2025 on a reported investment of NIS 6 million, and on 21 September 2022 it opened Nike's largest Israeli store at Azrieli Sarona in Tel Aviv, 2,100 m² across three floors, on a reported investment of NIS 50 million. Walla attributes the NIS 50 million to Retailors' own investment in the store; ice makes the brand the subject of the NIS 6 million opening and only separately states that the store is Retailors' property, and does not say whose money that sum was. Neither sum is a donation or aid. Bizportal reported on 5 May 2025 that Retailors is Nike's largest international franchisee, operating about 170 Nike stores in 19 countries including Israel, a relationship that began with a 2017 franchise agreement for Canada. Both store reports are coverage of the openings' own announcements — the ice piece quotes the Ofer Rehovot mall's CEO — each a single account of its event, not independent corroboration; the Bizportal analysis is separate reporting. |
Frequently asked questions
Did Nike donate money to Israel or Israeli causes?
We have no records of donations. What is on record is commercial activity in Israel (Franchisee action), which is not the same as support — see the records on this page.
Where does this information come from?
Every record on this page links to its source — news reports, official company statements, tax filings, or government records. 7 distinct sources are cited for Nike. Our methodology page explains the full verification process.
Sources & citations
Record last updated: 2026-09-26
- ice (אייס) ice.co.il
- Walla Finance finance.walla.co.il
- Bizportal bizportal.co.il
- Jerusalem Post jpost.com
- The Forward forward.com
- Check Your Fact checkyourfact.com
- Crain's New York Business (AP) crainsnewyork.com