Bella Hadid has spoken publicly for the first time about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, saying that ‘there is an urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that must be attended to.’
The 27-year-old star took to Instagram Thursday with a detailed statement calling for pressure to be put on political leaders to ‘stand together in defending humanity and compassion.’
The A-list model – who has past been outspoken about her beliefs about the Israel-Palestine conflict – spoke about the sensitive issue more than two weeks after her sister Gigi talked publicly about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
‘I have yet to find the ideal words for this deeply intricate and horrific past two weeks, weeks that have turned the worlds attention back toward a situation that has been taking innocent lives, and affecting families for decades,’ she said. ‘I have much to say, but for today, I will keep it short.’
Bella, whose father is Palestinian real estate businessman Mohamed Hadid and mother is Dutch model Yolanda Hadid, continued: ‘I’ve been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number has been leaked, and my family has felt to be in danger.
The latest: Bella Hadid, 27, has spoken publicly for the first time about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas , saying that ‘there is an urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that must be attended to.’ Pictured in Las Vegas in March
The model took to Instagram Thursday with a detailed statement calling for pressure to be put on political leaders to ‘stand together in defending humanity and compassion’
‘But I cannot be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave – they are.’
The supermodel said that ‘seeing the aftermath from the air strikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends, that will never again walk this earth.
‘Regardless of the history of the land, I condemn the terrorist attacks on any civilians, anywhere. Harming women and children and inflicting terror does not, and should not do any good for the Free Palestine movement.’
Bella addressed the plight of ‘the Israeli families that have been dealing with the pain and aftermath of’ the October 7 attack from Hamas, saying she ‘mourned’ for them.
‘I believe deep in my heart that no child, no people anywhere, should be taken away from their family either temporarily or indefinitely,’ she said. ‘That goes for Israeli and Palestine people alike.’
Bella said that ‘it’s important to understand the hardship of what it is to be Palestinian, in the world that sees us is nothing more than terrorist resisting peace,’ calling the characterization ‘harmful,’ ‘shameful’ and ‘categorically untrue.’
Bella in her statement opened up about her family’s ‘generational trauma’ stemming from the longtime conflict in the Middle East.
‘My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood,’ she said.
Bella was pictured attending a pro-Palestine rally in New York City in May of 2021
The supermodel has been outspoken about her beliefs on the issue
Bella last year said that she has lost friendships and professional opportunities over her stated beliefs on the Israel-Palestine conflict
Bella continued: ‘My father was born in Nazareth in the year of the Nakba (the displacement of 750,000 Palestinians in 1948).
‘Nine days after he was born, he, in his mothers arms, along with his family were expelled from their home in Palestine, becoming refugees, away from a place they once called home. My grandparents, Never being allowed to return.’
Bella said her family has ‘witnessed 75 years of violence against Palestinian people – most notably, brutal settler invasions, which led to the destruction of entire communities, murder in cold blood and the forcible removal of families from their homes.’
The supermodel, who has worked for labels including Balmain, Givenchy, Chanel and Victoria’s Secret, added that ‘the practice of settlements and Palestinian land still continues to this day,’ and ‘the pain of that is unimaginable.’
Bella in her post said that ‘we must all stand together in defending humanity and compassion – and demanding that our leaders do the same. All religions are peace – it is governments that are corrupt, and intertwining.’
She continued: ‘The two makes for the greatest sin of all. We are one and God has created all equal. All bloodshed, tears and bodies should be mourned with the same respect.’
Bella said that ‘there is an urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that must be attended to,’ as ‘families need access to water and food’ and ‘hospitals need fuel to power generators, tend to the wounded and keep people alive.
‘Wars have laws – and they must be upheld no matter what.’
The A-list model – who has past been outspoken about her beliefs about the Israel-Palestine conflict – spoke about the sensitive issue more than two weeks after her sister Gigi talked publicly about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
A shot from Sderot, Israel taken Thursday showed flares fired by the Israeli army over the northern Gaza Strip
Bella stressed to her 60.4 million followers that people ‘need to keep pressure on our leaders, wherever we are, not to forget the urgent needs of the people of Gaza, and to ensure that innocent Palestinian civilians are not the forgotten casualties of this war.’
She wrapped up in saying, ‘I stand with humanity, knowing the peace and safety belong to all of us.’
Bella last year said that she has lost friendships and professional opportunities over her stated beliefs on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
‘There have been so many brands that have stopped working with me; a lot of friends have also turned their backs on me,’ Bella told journalist Noor Tagouri on her podcast Rep last year. ‘I had friends that completely dropped me, like even friends that I had been having dinner with on Friday nights, for seven years, now just won’t let me into their house.’
Thursday marked the 20th day of the conflict, which began October 7 when Hamas militants stormed the Supernova music festival on and slaughtered hundreds of Israeli people, taking hostages to take back to Gaza.
Officials with Israel’s military said that its soldiers and tanks raided the Gaza area a short period on Thursday, for the third time since the conflict began, according to the AP. A Hamas official told the AP that Hamas needs more help from allies such as Hezbollah amid the ongoing conflict.