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Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem has harshly criticized Adidas after it chose a former Israeli soldier, who participated in attacks on Gaza and lost his leg while serving in the Israeli army, as the face of its advertising campaign.
Bardem joined the campaign to boycott Adidas through a statement posted on his social media accounts, urging his followers to stop buying products from the brand, which he accused of promoting "Israel, the perpetrator of genocide."
Bardem shared posts from pro-Palestinian organizations and activists who criticized the German brand for selecting the Israeli soldier for the campaign, commenting: "Adidas has chosen a man with blood on his hands."
Bardem had previously boycotted the German company during the last FIFA World Cup, where he wore a green jersey to avoid the classic red jersey of the Spanish national team, which is associated with the same brand.
The actor, who opposes Israeli policies, has shown explicit support for the Palestinian people at prominent cinematic events, including wearing a Palestinian scarf during the Emmy Awards and wearing a "No to War" badge during the Goya Awards.
It is noteworthy that Adidas was forced to issue an official apology following a wave of angry reactions and global calls for a boycott after it chose the aforementioned Israeli soldier as the face of its advertising campaign.
Over the past few days, Adidas faced a wave of widespread criticism after selecting former Israeli soldier Shalev Biton, who served as a sniper in the 2021 war on Gaza, to locally promote its "single shoe" service, which allows those who need a single shoe to purchase it for 50 percent of the price of a full pair.
Activists argued that the company ignored thousands of Palestinians, including children, who lost their limbs as a result of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
More than 5,000 amputation cases
The figures on amputees in the Gaza Strip reveal the scale of the irony cited by Adidas critics.
According to World Health Organization estimates released in May 2026, the Strip has seen between 5,161 and 6,710 limb amputations since October 2023.
The organization indicated that about 43,000 people in Gaza have sustained life-altering injuries, including about 10,000 children.
It noted that the number of serious limb injuries reached about 22,000 cases by last May, while the total number of injuries at that time had reached about 172,000 since October 8, 2023.
In a related context, data reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on August 14, 2026, confirmed that children account for about 18 percent of amputation cases in Gaza, while there are no specialized services available in the Strip for the rehabilitation of children.
The suffering of amputees does not end with the loss of their limbs, as it is followed by a long path of surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and obtaining a suitable prosthetic limb.
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