Here is a list of five Instagram accounts of Palestinians who are currently present in Gaza and have been actively updating on the Israel-Palestine escalation since October 7.
2. Motaz Azaiza @motaz_azaiza
3. Ali Jadallah @alijadallah66
4. Hind Khoudary @hindkhoudary
5. Lara @gazangirl
Here are 10 pictures from the past 10 days following Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.
While it does feel like many celebrities in Hollywood are either pushing false information or ignoring the bombing of Gaza, there are singers and actors who are raising their voice in favour of Palestinian civilians, demanding that a ceasefire be declared.
Roger Waters
The former Pink Floyd singer released a video statement where he spoke about his Palestinian friend Lomi Algeria, who lost 11 members of her family during the Israeli bombing. He called for a ceasefire between both parties. Waters has been a very vocal proponent of the Palestinian cause.
To Whom It May Concern: Please Stop. pic.twitter.com/39f0eMhFUk
— Roger Waters ✊ (@rogerwaters) October 13, 2023
Academy and Emmy award winning actor Riz Ahmed released a lengthy statement on his social media accounts where he called for the world’s attention to the crimes committed by Israel in Gaza.
Veteran Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon has been a staunch supporter for the freedom of Palestine, sharing video clips on her Twitter account calling to attention the dilapidated hospitals of Gaza.
Gaza Under COMPLETE SIEGE As Hospitals Collapse | Breaking Points #Shorts https://t.co/w2ERvBGlxH via @YouTube
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) October 14, 2023
Hollywood actor John Cusack shared an account of his visit to Palestine and the difficulty it took to get through the security and borders, describing the land as an “open air prison”.
When I visited Palestine – my first thought going through the concrete , barbed wire , guns and steel – the checkpoints stories-high into the sky – was its was harder to get into – and felt far more imposing and dangerous than when I crossed through Checkpoint Charlie and got… https://t.co/cbFlECicJ8
— John Cusack (@johncusack) October 16, 2023
He also addressed the argument that Palestinians should call for their freedom in a peaceful manner, sharing how they were shot by Israeli’s
Reminder – non violent protest has been tried – 3 years ago Palestinians of all kinds – teachers poets doctors you name it -organized a peaceful march to the boarder . No weapons – they were summarily executed .
How about a cease fire now .— John Cusack (@johncusack) October 16, 2023
Avengers star Mark Ruffalo, shared a post by the UN calling to attention the limited facilities available for children and women in Gaza.
It has been estimated by the United Nations that about one million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced during the first week of the conflict. The agency has described the situation in the besieged enclave as “catastrophic”.
‘May humanitarian rights be respected’, says Pope
Pope Francis has asserted the need for humanitarian corridors to help the people in besieged Gaza.
He addressed a crowd of thousands in St. Peter’s Square during his weekly speech, “I forcefully ask that children, the sick, the elderly and women and all civilians do not become the victims of the conflict”.
“May humanitarian rights be respected, above all in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors to help the entire population,” he said.
The Vatican has also offered to mediate in the crisis.
Gaza ‘no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance’
Another alert has been issued. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) chief has warned that hundreds of thousands of people in need in Gaza will no longer be assisted.
“My UNRWA colleagues in Gaza are no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance.The UNRWA operations is the largest United Nations footprint in the Gaza Strip, and we are on the verge of collapse. This is absolutely unprecedented,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told a press conference.
It was also notified that water and power supplies are depleting, and they will run out of food or medicine in a matter of time.
UNRWA facilities, including schools, are currently sheltering about 400,000 people in the south among whom, a large number is in need of assistance.
Additionally, the UN has reported that at least four hospitals in northern Gaza are now no longer operational as a result of Israeli bombings, whereas according to WHO, 21 other hospitals have been asked to be evacuated by Israel.
Persistent warnings are being given that “forced evacuation of hospitals may amount to a violation of international humanitarian law”.
4 hospitals in northern Gaza are no longer functioning as a result of damage and targeting.
21 hospitals in the Gaza Strip have received instructions from Israeli forces to evacuate.
Forced evacuation of hospitals may amount to a violation of International Humanitarian Law. pic.twitter.com/CrWFN9fO6M
— WHO in occupied Palestinian territory (@WHOoPt) October 15, 2023
50,000 pregnant women in Gaza deprived of health services
The UN has reported that 50,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip are without basic maternal medical help among whom 5,522 are due to give birth next month.
“Imagine going through that process in those final stages and your last trimester before giving birth, with possible complications, without clothing, without hygiene, support and not sure about what the next day, next hour, next minute will bring for themselves and for their unborn child,” United Nations Population Fund representative for Palestine, Dominic Allen said during her interview with CNN.
16 members of a single family killed in Israeli air raid
An Israeli air attack has reportedly killed a total of 16 members of a family, as stated by Palestinian territory’s media office.
Previously, Palestinian health ministry said 45 families have been entirely wiped out from the Gaza civil registry, which means that entire family trees and their potential legacy have perished.
BREAKING: Palestinian health ministry says 45 families have been entirely removed from the Gaza civil registry
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) October 14, 2023
At least 1,000 people under the rubble in Gaza
As the Israeli forces continue to bombard Gaza, more than 1,000 people remain missing under the building debris.
Among them are injured as well as dead, while many have been pulled alive after 24 hours of the collapse, says Palestinian civil defence team .
So far, more than 2,670 people have been killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza with at least 9,600 wounded.
199 Israeli captives taken by Hamas
Daniel Hagari, Israel’s army top spokesperson, has claimed that families of 199 people who were taken captive by Hamas have been notified by the military. The number of Israeli captives have reportedly increased from 155.
“We are making valiant efforts to try to understand where the hostages are in Gaza, and we have such information,” Hagari was quoted by Israeli media.
“We will not carry out an attack that would endanger our people,” he said.
Karim Benzema, a world-famous football player from France, has issued a statement in favor of the people of Gaza.
Karim took to X (former Twitter) to say, “Our prayers go out to the local people of Gaza who are once again being subjected to an unjust bombardment from which even children and women are not safe”.
Toutes nos prières pour les habitants de Gaza victimes une fois de plus de ces bombardements injustes qui n’épargnent ni femmes ni enfants.
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) October 15, 2023
Israel has been heavily bombarding Gaza for the past nine days, in which more than 2,600 people have been martyred and more than 10,000 have been injured.
American President Joe Biden has called Israel’s attack on Gaza as their right to defend themselves and said that the elimination of Hamas is necessary. However Biden has also warned Israel that ground action on Gaza would be a ‘big mistake’.
After controversy rose a few days ago when #BoycottMcDonalds began trending on X (formerly Twitter) after the fast food giant’s Israeli franchise announced that they were providing free food to soldiers carrying out operations in Gaza. Several McDonalds country franchises, including Pakistan, released statements distancing themselves from the Israeli chapter. However a few of them have announced donations for Gaza.
Read more: McDonalds Pakistan, Turkey, Lebanon release statements; dissociate themselves from Israel
The Turkey franchise released a statement where they distanced themselves from the Israeli branch and announced they were donating $1 million dollars to provide relief and aid to the communities currently suffering in Gaza.
McDonald’s franchise in UAE wrote they were deeply saddened by the events in the region, and announced that they were sending AED 1 million dollars to Emirates Red Crescent for their ‘Tarahum for Gaza’ campaign.
In Oman, the McDonald’s franchise wrote that the company was standing with Gaza in these difficult times, and have donated $100,000 dollars towards relief efforts.
The McDonald’s franchise in Pakistan released a statement on Saturday, distancing themselves from the Israeli branch, but many Twitter users questioned why the company did not announce solidarity with Gaza and donated to provide humanitarian aid like the rest of the countries had.
Veteran actress Nadia Jamil was among the critics as she wrote: “But do you stand with Palestine? That’s the answer we all want.”
But do you stand with Palestine? That’s the answer we all want https://t.co/v9TeiVwSAO
— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) October 14, 2023
“If you are a Pakistani entity then where is your condemnation of Israel bombings? Where are your meals for Gaza? This wouldn’t cut it unfortunately,” another user wrote.
If you are a Pakistani entity then where is your condemnation of Israel bombings? Where are your meals for Gaza? This wouldn’t cut it unfortunately https://t.co/ohQWsxxUsR
— Faisal Ranjha (@ranjha001) October 15, 2023
“Spineless chain. Could have supported Palestine but all they care about is their commercial interests and not making international stakeholders unhappy,” another user wrote.
Spineless chain. Could have supported Palestine but all they care about is their commercial interests and not making international stakeholders unhappy. https://t.co/VN2twtBWSe
— Rizwan (@Rizwow) October 14, 2023
Joseph Czuba, a 71-year-old man has stabbed a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy to death while also injuring his 32-year-old mother in Plainfield, Illinois USA in what local police have confirmed is a hate crime.
The Palestinian-American family was reportedly attacked by the man after he got influenced watching and reading about the conflict in the Middle East.
Czuba reportedly shouted “You Muslims must die” as he entered the family’s rented home and attacked the mother. When she ran to the bathroom to call 911, Czuba stabbed six-year-old 26 times, killing him on the spot.
President Joe Biden has released a statement, saying that he is “sickened” by the incident.
“This horrific act of hate has no place in America, and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are,” he said.
“As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred.”
Czuba has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, hate crimes and aggravated battery.
Will County Sheriff’s Office said on Sunday that they received an emergency call while the woman was fighting the killer.
She “ran into the bathroom and continued to fight off her attacker”, he explained.
By the time the police reached the scene, the mother and the child had “multiple stab wounds to their chest, torso, and upper extremities”.
Bothwere taken to hospital, but the boy who was reportedly stabbed 26 times couldn’t survive the attack.
Czuba, on the other hand, sat “upright outside on the ground near the driveway of the residence.”
“Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis,” the Sheriff’s office added.
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) identified the boy as Wadea al-Fayoume, and his mother as Hanaan Shahin.
Wadea was born in the US, while his mother was originally from Beitunia in the West Bank and came to the country 12 years ago.
According to CAIR-Chicago executive director Ahmed Rehab, Wadea had celebrated his birthday only a few weeks back.
I’m disgusted by this horrific violent hate crime that targeted an innocent Illinois mother and child because they are Muslim.
I condemn the barbaric, cold-blooded murder of six year old Wadea Al-Fayoume and hope the bigoted attacker is brought to justice. https://t.co/mc8EOkMeoE
— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) October 16, 2023
https://t.co/rCFA8fzCq4 pic.twitter.com/tIbFM3uYZp
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) October 15, 2023
My heart is broken hearing the news of the gruesome murder of 6-year-old Palestinian-American Wadea Al-Fayoume. And my prayers are with his mother, Hanaan Shahin, as she recovers from more than a dozen stab wounds and the reality of the loss of her sweet boy.
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) October 16, 2023
Only a couple of weeks back, the US was apparently succeeding in normalising the relationship between Saudi Arabia, arguably the most powerful Muslim country, and Israel. And while Saudi Arabia commenced talks, they made it clear that they will never compromise on their pro-Palestinian stance.
However, the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7 and the consequential escalation has created a gulf between Saudi Arabia and Israel as well as Saudi Arabia and America.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been visiting the Arab world to persuade them to side with Washington’s narrative on the Israel-Hamas war.
Washington Post has reported that after meeting Egypt’s Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken told reporters on Sunday that “I heard a lot of good ideas about some of the things we need to do moving forward.”
However, there came a conflict of views when it came to Israel’s right to wage intensified war in Gaza as both the Arab leaders do not approve of it.
It was further reported that in Riyadh, “the Saudi ruler kept Blinken waiting several hours for a meeting presumed to happen in the evening but which the crown prince only showed up for the next morning.”
While the US is in full support of Israel’s operations in besieged Gaza, El-Sisi and MBS, both stressed on the need for the Israeli forces to stop the attacks.
MBS also stressed on lifting the siege of Gaza that has deprived residents of water, food, electricity and more.
On the other hand, Sisi pointed out that Israel’s attacks have crossed “the right of self-defense,” and turned into “collective punishment.”
And while he condemned Hamas, he blamed Israel for the devastating situation of the Palestinian.
When Blinken brought into conversation his own Jewish heritage, Sisi, who himself grew up with Jew neighbours in Egypt, replied, “You said that you are a Jewish person and I am an Egyptian person who grew up next to Jews in Egypt.They have never been subjected to any form of oppression or targeting and it has never happened in our region that Jews were targeted in recent or old history.”
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor is one of the few Indian celebrities to condemn the bombardment of Palestine by Israeli army. The actress shared two post on her Instagram stories, as reported by Indian publication CNN News 18. One was a picture with the caption: “Half of the people in Gaza are children.”
The other one was a quote from a New York Times article written by Nicholas Kristof which condemned the one-sided apathy towards Palestinian children.
Most Twitter users lauded the ‘Aisha’ actress for taking a firm stand when Bollywood celebrities, including prominent Muslim actors, refused to speak out publicly against Israel’s atrocities towards Gaza.
Excellent. https://t.co/wYBgjAaz6G
— Naushad Alam (@Naushad71554228) October 15, 2023
Respect for @sonamakapoor
– she spoke for Palestine even after knowing the consequences.– She has always raised or supported the right issue on which superstars remained silent.
– she has more courage & conscience than those superstars who have only fought for their interests. https://t.co/BG8wU958Ls— زماں (@Delhiite_) October 15, 2023
Among the few Bollywood celebrities who have addressed the conflict, Shah Rukh Khan’s 2014 tweet was going viral on social media where he condemned the murder of Palestinian children.
The killing of & killing by little children will solve nothing for the ‘victims’ or the ‘victims of the victims.’ Prayers Peace Palestine.
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) July 13, 2014
Actress Swara Bhasker also condemned the brutal attack on Palestinian civilians by Israeli terrorists, and released a statement on her Instagram stories calling out the hypocrisy of those who were “shocked” by the violence of the Hamas.
“If you have not felt shock and horror at Israel’s unending atrocities on Palestinians, the forcible occupation of Palestinian homes, the forced evictions, the bigotry and violence of settler Israelis, the murder of Palestinian children and teenagers, the decades long blockade and bombing of Gaza and civilians in Gaza, including bombing of schools and hospitals (not to mention the apartheid and occupation), then I’m afraid your shock and horror at Hamas’ attacks on Israel seem a bit hypocritical.”
