With over 64,000 Palestinians killed, nearly 1.9 million Palestinians displaced, and famine being spread throughout the Gaza Strip, the people of Gaza are currently experiencing a horribly, gruesome humanitarian crisis. New videos, pictures, and statistics are emerging every day, revealing the unbearable and appalling living conditions being inflicted upon civilians within the strip. Despite the growing condemnation of the Israeli government, most recently seen during the latest United Nations conference, Israel still propagandizes its statement about “crushing Hamas,” masking the utter havoc being wreaked upon the people within Gaza. Nevertheless, a growing advocacy for the Palestinian people continues to emerge throughout this act of genocide as people from all over the world are showing their support and trying to enact change.
Such allegiance is even being implemented within art, music, and fashion. One sizable event is the recent “Together for Palestine” fundraiser. Taking place on September 17 in Wembley Arena with 12,000 people in attendance and over 200,000 viewing live, the audience witnessed and cheered for the various artists and speakers. The lineup included prominent international celebrities, doctors and journalists working within Gaza, and important Palestinian voices and musicians. Some of the household names included Benedict Cumberbatch and Florence Pugh along with musicians, such as PinkPantheress, Damon Albarn (Gorillaz), and Palestinian singers Elyanna, Saint Levant, and more.
To start off the night, British DJ Jamie xx and Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi joined forces to create an absolutely electrifying DJ set. Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti showcased her beautiful voice while also commemorating her performance to all the children in Gaza and to famous Palestinian writer and poet, Refaat Alareer, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in December 2023. Other world-renowned singers like James Blake, Sampha, and Bastille all individually and masterfully played piano while delivering their own incredible singing performances. In addition, Damon Albarn had an amazing set with Yasiin Bey (Most Def), Syrian singer Omar Souleyman, and the London Arab Orchestra, while displaying his solidarity for Palestine with a visual of the virtual band, Gorillaz, holding up the Palestinian flag. Finally, singer Elyanna and her brother, Feras, finished off the night with a lovely performance of the song “Olive Branch,” a song symbolic of love and peace.
The event was executed in a manner that truly paid respect to Palestinian culture and art. Malak Mattar, for example, is a Palestinian artist whose masterful paintings, which showcase the lives and experiences of Palestinians, made an appearance as the visual art for the concert. The keffiyeh, a traditionally black-and-white checkered Palestinian headdress, was also a visual anchor throughout the night as a symbol of solidarity for the Palestinian people. Multiple people on stage and within the crowd wore keffiyehs, showing their support for Gaza. Both Paloma Faith and Leigh-Anne even donned their own unique, amazing dresses constructed out of keffiyehs while on stage.
Other examples of the night’s activist fashions can be seen within the event’s color theme, with a dress code of red, green, white, and black, as tribute to the Palestinian flag. This was most notably seen within the musical performance of Brian Eno and friends, all of whom were sporting a color scheme reminiscent of the Palestinian flag. Additional speakers at the concert also wore various pieces from the campaign’s merchandising line, whose proceeds go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and the Palestine Medical Relief Service. The collection mainly consists of multiple T-shirts with the campaign name or pro-Palestinian imagery and quotes. Some of the designers also share the sentiment in fashion’s ability to enact change and to serve as a form of activism; one designer, Katharine Hamnett, gave her stance in “The Evening Standard”, stating, “Fashion is communication. In the face of mass killing, communication matters.” As indicated by Hamnett, awareness in any mode of communication, even if it is fashion or art, is vital to the dire situation in Gaza.
Though fashion was one of many aspects of art displayed at “Together for Palestine”, the overall event and campaign truly highlight how art, music, and fashion are still being used to voice activism and spread awareness. Nonetheless, the significant cause behind this activism is what really needs the most attention. The focus of the night revolved around championing Palestine’s right to exist, with many key figures paying homage to those suffering within Gaza. Mehdi Hasan, activist and founder of the media company Zeteo, honored Palestinian journalists with a powerful speech about the unjust targeting and murder committed at the hands of the Israeli military. He also introduced Palestinian journalist Yara Eid to the stage, who gave a heartbreaking speech about the many people in her life who have been murdered by the Israeli military. Many other speakers also came out in order to commemorate the 270 doctors and journalists killed, who died simply trying to deliver truth and aid.
The fundraiser served as one of the first (and largest) concerts used to raise money for Palestine. The campaign raised more than £1.6 million ($2.1 million) for Palestinian humanitarian organizations, such as the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and the Palestine Medical Relief Service. While the event commemorated Palestinian culture through a pleading artistic lens and paid homage to those killed and currently suffering, that was not enough to free Palestine. We must spark dialogue and enact change, which is what the concert truly aimed to do.
You can still donate to “Together for Palestine” or the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, which, undoubtedly, is another incredible way to help those currently suffering. However, we also need to speak up for what is right, especially when the lives of numerous human beings are on the line. Being complicit in the face of this genocide is not neutrality. By any means necessary, whether that be through art, music, fashion, social media, or simply talking about it, use your voice to bring awareness to this injustice in Gaza. Simply remember that anybody can help to enact change. Even you.
Words by Eli Morey
Graphic by Aubrey Lauer