Macklemore.Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
Macklemoreis speaking out amid the ongoing warbetween Israel and Hamas.
On Thursday, the “Thrift Shop” singer (whose real name is Ben Haggerty), 40, shared a lengthystatement on Instagramcalling for ceasefire as tragedy unfolds in Israel and Gaza.
The singer-songwriter said that “as a father,” it is “absolutely unfathomable” to think of losing a child in theNova Festival in Re’im, Israel, where Hamas killed hundreds of Israelis, before taking a firm stance. “Killing innocent humans in retaliation as collective punishment is not the answer. That is why I am supporting the people around the world who are calling for a ceasefire.”
“I have been backstage at night before the shows, tears uncontrollably streaming down my face in absolute disbelief at how we as a country are supporting these murders with our weapons and financial backing,” he wrote, referring tothe United States' supportinwar aid for Israel.
“We are collectively praying for Israel before NFL football games, projecting Israeli flags onto our buildings and watching in-depth news stories on the catastrophic bombings in Israel,” he added. “All are important ways of honoring the Israeli lives lost and those that are suffering because of it. But why are we not doing the same for Palestinians? How are one group of people’s lives worth more than others?”
Macklemore — who noted that he is no “expert on this conflict” — said that there is “no side to take when it comes to our collective human spirit.”
“I stand with all humans. I stand for peace. I stand for love. I stand for freedom. And because of that, I stand for a Free Palestine and an end to the looming genocide of its people,” he concluded.
The fight between Israel and Hamas began with Hamas' deadly surpriseattack on Israeli civilianson Oct. 7. Since then, Israel vowed to defend itself, calling forthe immediate evacuation of 1.1 million civiliansin Gaza City ahead of planned strikes.
On Oct. 17, a blast at a Gaza hospital killed thousands of Palestinians, though U.S. government officials weighed in to say thatIsrael’s involvement in the deadly incident appears unlikely.
source: people.com
