Celebrities gather en masse in London for the charity event titled 'Together for Palestine' fundraiser.
In a powerful display of solidarity, a group of renowned artists came together for the "Together for Palestine" fundraising concert at London's Wembley Arena on Wednesday. The event, organized by British artist Brian Eno, aimed to raise funds for Palestinian organizations through Choose Love, a UK charity supporting humanitarian workers in conflict zones.
The concert featured a diverse lineup of performers, including Bastille, James Blake, Paloma Faith, Jamie xx, PinkPantheress, Sama' Abdulhadi, Saint Levant, and Elyanna. Notable celebrities like Florence Pugh, Nicola Coughlan, and Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as figures like Mehdi Hasan, Eric Cantona, and Francesca Albanese, the UN special envoy for Palestine, also spoke at the event.
The event came as global outrage mounted over Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza, with nearly 65,000 Palestinians reportedly killed according to the Palestinian health ministry. Actor Steve Coogan urged people to speak out now and pressure their governments to support peace for Palestine, while Scottish actor Brian Cox said, "We have to tell the truth on behalf of the people of Palestine."
Actor Florence Pugh criticized other celebrities for staying silent about the ongoing suffering of Palestinians, and Nicola Coughlan stated that many artists with large followings are saying nothing about the situation in Gaza.
The event saw celebrities showing their support for Gaza, with Javier Bardem wearing a keffiyeh and Hannah Einbinder calling for "Free Palestine" at the Emmy Awards. At the Oscars last year, celebrities like Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas wore Artists4Ceasefire lapel pins calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Hundreds of artists have joined the Artists4Ceasefire campaign, which published a letter urging the US Congress and then-President Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire. A video featuring celebrities, including Billie Eilish, Cillian Murphy, Joaquin Phoenix, Brian Cox, Nan Goldin, Steve Coogan, and others, called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
American photographer and activist Nan Goldin stated that it's the artist's role in society to speak out, and Palestinian artist Malak Mattar helped design the set for the concert, which featured the work of eight Palestinian artists who have been killed by Israel, according to Vogue.
By 10 p.m. local time, the event had raised £1.5 million ($2 million), according to the Guardian. Israel announced it was beginning a ground incursion in Gaza City on Tuesday, making the fundraiser's efforts even more crucial. Steve Coogan, in the aforementioned video, appeared in an image from the award-winning film, "The Sea." Israel's culture minister vowed to defund 'Israeli Oscars' after the film about a Palestinian boy won big.
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