Fashion giant Zara has expressed today, Tuesday, regret for a "misunderstanding" over adverts resembling the destruction in Gaza which led to widespread calls for a boycott.

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. Zara said that the campaign, advertising its Atelier line, was "conceived in July and photographed in September", before Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7.

Zara also said that 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."