ALBAWABA - The flip-flop worn by one of the fighters of the Al-Qassam Brigades during the withdrawal of an Israeli soldier armed with weapons inside one of the tunnels in Gaza has turned into a trend, especially after activists purchased the same brand, which turned out to be the "Napoli" shoe brand, a Palestinian company in Hebron.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, broadcasted on Sunday, May 26, 2024, a video showing an Israeli soldier lying on the ground, with one of the Al-Qassam fighters dragging him into the tunnel, following a speech by Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, announcing the capture, killing, and injuring of Israeli soldiers during a complex operation the previous Saturday, north of the Gaza Strip.
After the video was published, activists on social media launched a hashtag titled "Napoli Flip-Flop," which turned into a "registered brand for stepping on enemies," as described by some tweeters, calling for its purchase.
The Napoli flip-flop was distinguished by its simplicity and wide availability, and attempts to invest in various places worldwide. Some activists requested the establishment of a clothing brand with a flip-flop logo in order to replace some boycotted foreign brands that support the occupation.
The famous Jordanian content creator Ayman Abla celebrated the "Qassam" operation by purchasing a flip-flop similar to the one worn by the Qassam fighter who captured an Israeli soldier yesterday, indicating the simple capabilities that the resistance faces against the equipment of the occupying army.
The video gained great popularity but disappeared from Abla's account, who said that the "Instagram" platform deleted it without notifying him, but this step led to the video spreading even more.
The Jordanian content creator who previously visited Gaza to provide assistance to the affected, Diaa Alian, known as Abu al-Dee, said that this flip-flop is not only older than the history of the occupation but also pointed out that from now on, this flip-flop should become the primary shoe for work and official places due to its significant impact.
As for the Egyptian artist Amr Waked, he tweeted on the X platform, asking: "Where in Europe can I buy Napoli flip-flops, folks?"
Napoli Shoe Manufacturing Company was founded in 1940 in Hebron by the Palestinian Salman al-Natsheh, who had been working in the shoe industry for a long time. The company managed to open markets abroad, especially in Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
