It’s been 19 days since Israel began its deadly onslaught on Gaza, killing more than 7,000 people, including nearly 3,000 children, according to Palestinian officials. It’s not the first time that Palestinians are the target of relentless Israeli airstrikes, but this time, the world refuses to be silent, with some of the world’s biggest celebrities showing their solidarity with the Palestinians when the vast majority of the people in the industry don’t have the courage to speak out.
Emerging as the unexpected champion of Palestinian rights that we never knew we needed is American singer Kehlani, who for the past two-weeks has been using her Instagram platform to educate her 15.6 million followers on what is happening. In addition to changing her profile picture to an image bearing the text “I stand with Palestine,” the artist has constantly been advocating for innocent civilians by sharing and re-posting pro-Palestine content on her Stories and feed. She was also among the people who signed the Artists Against Apartheid petition, alongside Lil Yachty and Noname.
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But Kehlani isn’t alone. She is joined in support by a number of other celebrities, including Fifth Harmony group member, Lauren Jauregui. The American-Cuban singer and songwriter, who boasts over 12.5 million Instagram followers, is one of the loudest voices for the Palestinian cause. When asked by an X user what the point of her tweeting about the war was, she responded, “That I know, when history tells us the truth, that I did everything in my power and privilege that I have been granted in this life and that my circumstances afford me to speak up for people who are not only trying to be silenced but OBLITERATED before my very eyes.”
It’s the precision of the language with which it is laid out. There is no argument. Anyone who argues is aiding and abetting a genocidal, psychopathic ideology. Make no mistake, they want the land by any means necessary and the will of the Palestinian people has endured for 75… https://t.co/oEtfBc9VfQ
— Lauren Jauregui (@LaurenJauregui) October 25, 2023
Last week, Dave Chappelle also spoke out during one of his sets. The polarizing comedian called out Israel’s relentless bombardment against the Gaza Strip, reportedly spurring some audience members to get up and leave.
Wednesday star Jenna Ortega also took to her social media platforms to share a post calling for an end to the genocide against Palestinians. Mark Ruffalo, known for his role as the Hulk in the Marvel franchise, has also been a strong advocate for the Palestinian cause. The actor shared links to the website of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, which is dedicated to “justice and equality” for Palestinians, and encouraged followers to call on Congress to facilitate an immediate ceasefire.
Other celebrities calling for a ceasefire and the opening of the Gaza border to allow in humanitarian aid and supplies include Hollywood stars Tilda Swinton and Steve Coogan, who were among 2000 artists who signed a letter voicing their concern over the war crimes being committed against Palestinians in the densely-populated enclave.
“Since we were children, so many of us have told ourselves that we would not stand by if we were ever witnesses to genocidal violence,” Naomi Klein said. “We told ourselves that we would raise our voices. We told ourselves we would put our bodies on the line. We pledged that such…
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 19, 2023
“We are witnessing a crime and a catastrophe. Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and cut off the supply of water, power, food and medicine to 2.3 million Palestinians. In the words of the UN’s undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, ‘the spectre of death’ is hanging over the territory. Gaza is already a society of refugees and the children of refugees,” said the letter.
Other celebrities who used their platforms to advocate for Palestine in the past, more specifically in May 2021 when Israel began bombing Palestinians who were protesting against Israel’s plan to forcibly evict them from their homes to make way for Jewish settlers, include John Legend, Dua Lipa, and Bella Hadid, who has continuously voiced her support for her father’s native country over the years.
Kid Cudi
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Summer Walker
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Jesse Williams
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Nicola Coughlan
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Amanda Seales
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Angelina Jolie
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Imaan Hammam
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Bella Hadid
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Stormzy
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Huda Kattan
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Gigi Hadid
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Macklemore
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John Cusack
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Roger Waters
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Indya Moore
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