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An online store hosted by Shopify is selling apparel promoting the antisemitic hate slogan “Death, death to the IDF.”
The store is operated by the “Punk With a Camera” brand. An Instagram reel posted on June 30 by the brand features the “Death, death to the IDF” chant — popularized by British rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury Festival two days earlier.
The Community Security Trust (CST) tallied the highest-ever daily total for recorded antisemitic incidents the day after the Bob Vylan performance.
Shopify’s Policies Ban Violence — on Paper
Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) clearly states that merchants may not “call for, or threaten, violence against specific people or groups.” That rule has been in place for years and applies to all Shopify-hosted stores.
In August, after criticism for hosting racist and antisemitic merchandise, Shopify added new language to a help page for its Shop App and Shopify Payments systems. The update banned “products promoting hateful content, violence, gore, profanity or offensive content.”
The revision did not replace the existing AUP. Instead, it extended similar restrictions to Shopify’s checkout and payment tools, which operate under separate terms. This distinction matters: while the AUP governs what merchants can host, the help-page rules determine which stores can process payments or appear in Shopify’s consumer-facing app.
By splitting these rules across different documents, Shopify can claim to prohibit hate and violence — yet still allow questionable merchants to remain active until public pressure forces enforcement.
Shopify also offers a “Report a merchant” form with a “Threat of violence” category for policy violations.
Not an Isolated Problem
Earlier this year, Shopify removed Kanye West’s store after it offered swastika-themed shirts. The decision proved the platform can act swiftly when pressure mounts.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) has also reported on the spread of “Global Intifada” apparel, which glorifies violence and calls for a worldwide ‘intifada’ against Jews.
How You Can Act
- Report the merchant using Shopify’s “Threat of violence” option. Attach the Instagram reel link, a collection page, and a screenshot of the “Powered by Shopify” footer.
- Reference Shopify’s own language. Its AUP bans calls for violence. Its help page forbids products promoting hateful or violent content.
When Commerce Becomes Complicity
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism identifies “calls for, aiding, or justifying violence against Jews” as antisemitic.
Chants such as “Death, death to the IDF” — and the decision to commercialize them — fit squarely within that framework. They are not political statements but open calls for violence against Jews and Israelis.
