Zara pulls advert accused of resembling Gaza images

Zara has pulled advertising which some claimed contained pictures resembling images from the Israel-Gaza war.

Zara said it regretted a "misunderstanding" about the pictures, saying some customers "saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created".

One image showed the model holding a mannequin wrapped in what appears to be white plastic.

The UK advertising watchdog said it had received 50 complaints about the ad.

The company said that the campaign, advertising Zara's Atelier line, was "conceived in July and photographed in September".

On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people. Israel launched retaliatory attacks on Gaza, which the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory says has killed about 18,200 people.

Zara's campaign - called "The Jacket" - contained a series of images in which the model was pictured against a background of cracked stones, damaged statues and broken plasterboard.

Some on social media suggested they were similar to images emerging from Gaza.

But Zara said the campaign presented "a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor's studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context".

In a statement issued days after the controversy first emerged, Zara said: "Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created.

"Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone."