A charity occasion at Wembley Enviornment has raised £1.5m to assist Palestinian-led organisations engaged on the frontline of the Israel-Hamas struggle.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed and Richard Gere have been among the many stars lending their voice to Collectively For Palestine on Wednesday, organised by songwriter, artist and activist Brian Eno.
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(R-L): Amelia Dimoldenberg and Louis Theroux. Pic: Aaron Parsons Images
It comes days after a two-year UN investigation discovered Israel has dedicated genocide in Gaza, which it denies.
Excessive-profile names from throughout the globe and spanning the generations have been there, with musicians, actors, sportspeople, journalists and poets contributing to the present.
Actress Florence Pugh spoke on stage, telling the group: “Silence in the face of such suffering is not neutrality, it is complicity. Empathy should not be this hard and it should have never been this hard”.
Hollywood actor Gere was joined on stage by medics who’ve served on the bottom in Gaza, urging the viewers to make use of their voices by “speaking the truth with generosity and love, that’s how you change things”.
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Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan referred to as on different artists to talk up too, saying: “There are many artists that I love, and I know you love, who have hundreds of millions of followers, and they’re saying nothing.”
Broadcaster Louis Theroux spoke movingly about his time making a documentary within the West Financial institution, saying the individuals of Palestine have been “subjected to a kind of slow, grinding, relentless violence”.
Music-wise, a reside ensemble that includes Damon Albarn, Paul Weller, Adnan Joubran, Scorching Chip’s Alexis Taylor and Nadine Shah carried out a specifically composed musical piece, and Neneh Cherry, Greentea Peng, and Bastille singer Dan Smith united for a rendition of Cherry’s hit music 7 Seconds.
A pre-recorded model of Annie Lennox’s Why was performed, with revised lyrics to mirror the horrors of the Israel-Hamas struggle and there was an unique filmed efficiency by Bristol band Portishead.
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Richard Gere. Pic: Aaron Parsons Images
From the sports activities world, soccer star Eric Cantona referred to as for a world boycott of Israel all through soccer, asking golf equipment to refuse to play Israeli groups, saying: “It’s time for everyone to get off the sidelines, who will follow me?”
Poetry and prose have been additionally learn out, and Palestinian artwork was showcased all through the live performance.
Cash raised from the live performance – which was organized simply seven weeks in the past and noticed tickets promote out in hours – can be distributed to Palestinian-led organisations similar to Taawon, Palestine Youngsters’s Aid Fund and Palestine Medical Aid Service.
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Is Israel committing genocide?
It is the primary large-scale music occasion to indicate assist for Palestine, following particular person reveals of solidarity from a number of artists, a few of which have provoked backlash.
Digital music band Large Assault projected a Palestinian flag on stage at considered one of their live shows in Bristol final 12 months.
Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs underneath the title Mo Chara, was charged with supporting a proscribed terror organisation after being accused of displaying a flag in assist of Hezbollah at a gig in London in November final 12 months.
In June, punk duo Bob Vylan led chants of “death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)” throughout a set at Glastonbury Pageant. The BBC, who livestreamed the set, have been compelled to apologise, and a police investigation is presently underway.
Well being officers in Hamas-run Gaza say practically 65,000 individuals have been killed within the two years of the struggle – a determine that does not differentiate between fighters and civilians.
The struggle started after the Hamas terror assault on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed round 1,200 and noticed 251 taken hostage. Forty-eight hostages stay in Gaza, however fewer than half are thought to nonetheless be alive.
