Supermodel Gigi Hadid has broken her silence regarding the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. The star, who has been a vocal advocate for the people of Palestine over the years, spoke out against the loss of innocent lives and called for empathy and peace.
Over the weekend, a sudden attack by the militant group Hamas on Israel led to the tragic loss of lives and prompted Israel to launch a military attack on the Gaza Strip.
Taking to her Instagram account, Gigi shared a heartfelt message in which she expressed her deep empathy for the people of Palestine and those who lost their lives in Israel amidst the conflict. She wrote, "My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict — too many of which are children."
Gigi also voiced a responsibility to her Jewish friends, stating, "While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person."
She emphasized that the terrorizing of innocent people goes against the principles of the "Free Palestine" movement and only fuels a cycle of retaliation. Gigi underlined her belief that being "Pro-Palestine" should not be equated with being antisemitic. She wrote, "The terrorizing of innocent people is not in alignment with and does not do any good for the 'Free Palestine' movement. The idea that it does, has fueled a painful, decades-long cycle of back-and-forth retaliation (which no innocent civilian, Palestinian or Israeli, deserves to be a casualty of), and helps perpetuate the false idea that being Pro-Palestine = antisemitic."
The supermodel offered support and extended her condolences to her loved ones, both Palestinian and Jewish. She highlighted the importance of human rights, regardless of nationality, religion, ethnicity, or place of birth, and concluded with a message of love and prayer for the safety of innocent lives.
She concluded by saying, "I know my words will never be enough or heal the deep wounds of so many, but I pray for the safety of innocent lives, always."
Hadid's connection to the conflict is personal, as her father, Mohamed Hadid, was born in Palestine. The Hadid family has consistently expressed support for the "Free Palestine" movement over the years. Mohamed Hadid, Gigi's father, has also been actively expressing his support for Palestine and criticizing the Israeli government in recent days. He condemned the killing of innocent civilians, especially women and children, and called for love and compassion to prevail over hate and animosity during these trying times.
