Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Celebrities speak out for Palestinians

Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 10/10/23; Wells, Sheldon S., Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
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Celebrities who have spoken out in support of Palestinians
Popular Lebanese-American pornstar Mia Khalifa
A number of celebrities have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the fighting in Israel and [its oppressive open-air prison called] Gaza — with some expressing support for Palestinians.

Palestinian [security force and] militant group Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on Saturday, in a move that [allegedly] took the Israeli military and security services by surprise, and [corrupt] Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu subsequently declared: "We are at war."

At least 700 people have been killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza [but that's just for starters, as the Israeli War Forces plan a mass slaughter of genocidal proportions, even suggesting, at least for show, the use of its secret nuclear munitions], the Associated Press reported.

Since Saturday [Oct. 7, 2023], Israel has carried out attacks against Hamas [which is really an acronym HAMAS for an official organization portrayed as a movement or vice versa], launching "Operation Swords of Iron."

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed organization that the U.S. considers a terrorist group alongside Hamas, on Sunday launched a barrage of [symbolic] mortar shells into Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fired [precision] artillery back into [the independent Christian country of] Lebanon.

No casualties were reported on either side, according to Reuters.

Some celebrities dare to support Palestinians rather than condemn the victims retaliating against oppression by state sponsors of terror. Clockwise from top left: Model Bella Hadid on Oct. 3, 2022, in Paris, France; singer Selena Gomez on Sept. 12, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey; singer Dua Lipa on July 12, 2023, in London, England; singer Zayn Malik on Jan. 28, 2018, in New York City. A host of stars have spoken out in support of Palestinians over the years (Peter White and Taylor Hill, Getty Images; Samir Hussein and Steve Granitz, Wire Image).

As the conflict captures international headlines, a few brave celebrities are using social media to express their sympathy and support for Palestinians. Some have shared neutral messages, while others have predictably and safely shown support for the Israeli people [and Zionists, and Israeli nationalists, and Israel's military-industrial complex].

[Did Brits create 'Israel' to control Middle East?]
Famous porn actress Mia Khalifa has been the most vocal among them. On Saturday, the former adult film star shared a message on X (formerly Twitter) that led to a public firing from her role as an adviser at Red Light Holland, which produces and distributes psilocybin mushrooms.

It has also been reported that the industrial pornographers Playboy have severed ties with her. "Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal," read Ms. Khalifa's social media post.

Seeking to clarify her sentiments, Khalifa wrote in an X post on Monday: "I just want to make it clear that this statement in no way shape or form is [inciting] spread of violence, I specifically said freedom fighters because that's what the Palestinian citizens are...fighting for freedom every day."

After Red Light Holland CEO Todd Shapiro [possibly Jewish] spoke out against Khalifa's previous post and informed her via X that she was fired, she responded: "I'd say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but I'm more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists [racist colonialists]. My bad."

In a separate post, Lebanese-born Khalifa said: "I just wanna make sure there's 4K footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison they've been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how they freed themselves from apartheid.

Most will keep quiet. They know how it works.
"Please worry about your sad little company lacking direction and purpose before you utter my name again. I stand with all people fighting oppression, now and always[;] do your research before begging for my investment in your little project[.] I'm from LEBANON[;] are you insane for expecting me to be on the side of colonialism[,] you f****** weirdo."

Responding to radio host and wrestler Peter Rosenberg's criticism of her post, Khalifa further wrote: "I stand with all oppressed people, everywhere, until no one is fighting for freedom," the screenshot showed Khalifa responding.

Where is the geopolitical "Middle East"?
"I'm from Lebanon[;] I've lived through more air [raids] by the IDF [Israeli Defense War Forces] than your tiny privileged brain could ever know how to work through.

"[You] know nothing but tall tales of a land that doesn't belong to you, created by a military that has nothing to do with your peaceful god loving religion. Don't you ever disrespect me and my experience with what geopolitical war is again[,] you man child."

Swedish singer Zara Larsson also responded to the conflict. Sharing a photo of herself on her Instagram Story, Larsson posted a caption that read: "Oh so it's stand with Ukraine when Russia invades but not Palesti-."

A host of other celebrities have also spoken out and expressed support for Palestinian people in recent years.

Back in 2021, tensions soared in the region over a delayed Israeli court ruling on whether authorities could evict several Palestinians from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, outside the Old City, to make room for [illegal] Jewish settlers [occupiers].

I've been waiting for this my whole administration. I, the CIA, We declare war on Palestinians
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Egyptian-born soccer star Mohamed Elneny, who plays for British club Arsenal, shared a trio of photos that featured the Palestinian flag. In an accompanying caption, he wrote: "My heart and my soul and my support for you Palestine."

In a series of Instagram Story posts at the time, model Gigi Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, shared the work of an artist alongside the quote: "You Will Not Erase Palestine."

Palestinian boy has had it with foreign militants
Hadid also shared a post explaining the tensions by journalist and activist Noor Tagouri. "We should all unequivocally agree that suddenly being kicked out of your family home, the homes you've built lives in, by a military state, is criminal and inhumane," the post reads in part. "This is not a religion thing," Tagouri continued.

"Even if that is what you have heard, it has never been a religion thing. The story sounds better that way. This is a political thing. One that deserves resolution for both Palestinians and Israelis."

Hadid's sister, fellow model Bella Hadid, shared some of the same Instagram Story posts to her own at the time. She also reposted a story that their older sister, Alana Hadid, shared on her own Instagram:

"My sisters and I, we speak in a family group chat every day. Mostly about Palestine and all that goes on. It is so hard to put into words how I feel," Bella Hadid added to her sister's post.

"I feel the pain of my ancestors. I cry for them. I cry for my Palestinian brothers and sisters, there now, feeling unsafe and scared. This needs to stop, there is NO room for this in 2021!!!! My sister [Alana] wrote perfectly how I feel today. We are proud [to be] Palestinian and we stand with Palestine."

Singer Dua Lipa, who was dating the Hadid sisters' younger brother Anwar Hadid at the time, showed her support by sharing the #SaveSheikhJarrah hashtag to her Instagram stories, along with artwork from designer duo Mothanna Hussein and Hadi Alaeddin.

Responding to the public stance taken by Lipa and the Hadid sisters, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, the head of the World Values Network, called the stars "mega-influencers" who have "accused Israel of ethnic cleansing" and "vilified the Jewish State" in a full-page ad taken out in The New York Times.

Hitting back, Lipa wrote in an X post to "reject the false and appalling allegations" made against her by the World Values Network. "I take this stance because I believe that everyone — Jews, Muslims, and Christians — have the right to live in peace as equal citizens of a state they choose," she added.

"I stand in solidarity with all oppressed people and reject all forms of racism." Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik, who shares a child with Gigi Hadid, made his stance on the tensions known back in 2014, when he posted the oft-used hashtag "#FreePalestine" on his X account.

That same year, musician Rihanna and basketball player Dwight Howard shared the same hashtag on X. According to Vox, both stars later deleted their posts. More

Mia Khalifa is getting canceled?
Shani Louk dancing at peace festival
Harry Potter
star Emma Watson waded into the conversation with an Instagram repost shared in January 2022. The post showed a collage emblazed with the words "solidarity is a verb."

In the background were protesters bearing Palestinian flags. "Solidarity does not assume that our struggles are the same struggles, or that our pain is the same pain, or that our hope is for the same future," read an accompanying quote attributed to feminist scholar Sara Ahmed.

"Solidarity involves commitment, and work, as well as the recognition that even if we do not have the same feelings, or the same lives, or the same bodies, we do live on common ground."

The post was met with condemnation from some Israeli officials, who accused Watson of antisemitism.

Watson was subsequently defended by a host of [Hollywood] stars that included Susan Sarandon, Mark Ruffalo, Gael GarcĂ­a Bernal, and Viggo Mortensen — all of whom joined forces for a letter made public days after the Instagram post.

Organized by Artists for Palestine UK, a cultural network that describes itself as "standing together for Palestinian rights," the letter read:

"We join Emma Watson in support of the simple statement that 'solidarity is a verb,' including meaningful solidarity with Palestinians struggling for their human rights under international law."
Jewish American comedian Sarah Silverman condemns Hamas

Beloved American princess is weary of the world
In an X post, American comedian Sarah Silverman condemned Hamas, while also speaking about the complexities of the issues affecting the region. [Like what? Israel's war crimes, attempted ethnic cleansing, and constant oppression of innocent Palestinian civilians?]

"My sister and nieces and nephews are there," she wrote. "They've been protesting BIBI [corrupt, CIA-groomed, would-be dictator and again after being thrown out of office Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu] for months. Fight for a two state solution. Israelis are Jews and Arabs and all colors.

"There is so much complexity to this," Silverman continued. "But make NO MISTAKE Hamas [the security force in the Gaza Strip, Israel's open-air prison holding more than 2,000,000 human beings] is a terror organization [whose] mission statement is kill all Jews. This f****** world breaks my heart."

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