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A message from the Hadid family: Championing Palestinians' rights does not make you anti-semitic

A message from the Hadid family: Championing Palestinians' rights does not make you anti-semitic

Real estate tycoon Mohamed Hadid shares the meaning of 'semite', asks people to educate themselves before using any words.
16 May, 2021

If you're on social media, your feed right now probably has considerable posts dedicated to highlighting the plight of the Palestinian people during the ongoing violence.

At least 153 people have been killed in Gaza since Monday, including 42 children while Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children, as hostilities stretched into a seventh day with no sign of abating.

Models Gigi and Bella Hadid, sisters of Palestinian descent, are among the vocal celebs who have been asking people to speak up against Palestinian oppression by Israel. A common occurrence for when a person advocates for Palestine's right to freedom is that they are labelled anti-semitic.

The elder Hadid sister shared one such comment by a social media user, who called Gigi "another anti-semitic celebrity". Another user wrote "we gonna to stay in Israel no matter how much you want to kill us".

Responding to the comments, Gigi stated that she condemns anti-semitism.

"'I' am not trying to kill you, nor would I ever want that. I do not wish any more deaths upon Israelis, just as I feel about Palestinians," she said.

"There are also Jewish Palestinians and Christian Palestinians, as there was, coexisting, with my father's Muslim Palestinian family when he was born in Palestine in 1948. I wish you peace."

Her father, real estate tycoon Mohamed Hadid, shared a post on his Instagram in which he shared the meaning of the word 'semite' from Encyclopaedia Britannica.

"Please educate yourself before you use words. Any words. (Stupid is not excusable). Like SEMITE For example. HITLER hated us all so he was Anti-Semite ... please read this page carefully. Or may be just Google the word (Semite)," he wrote.

He also shared a picture of his younger daughter Bella at a Free Palestine demonstration in New York.

"No one should be allowed to erase a race ... you can’t close your eyes ... the Pope did in WW1 and WW11 and the rest of the world stood by silently," he said.

"The way my heart feels ... to be around this many beautiful, smart, respectful, loving, kind and generous Palestinians all in one place ... it feels whole ! We are a rare breed!!" said Bella, adding "It’s free Palestine till Palestine is free!!!"

Bella and Gigi's brother, Anwar, also didn't mince his words when calling out Israel.

"We cant stop speaking on this, have real conversations and come to the conclusion yourself. Let us talk about right now; Palestinian children deserve to be proud of themselves, everyday men and women are subjugated into the violence of the Israeli government and army!"

"Palestinians being deemed terrorists and threats keeps Israel safe and the US making money," he lashed out. "When will human life be more important than money and power."

Earlier, the sisters used their social media to ask people to break their silence on the issue. "One cannot advocate for racial inequality, LGBTQ and women's rights, condemn corrupt and abusive regimes and other injustices, yet choose to ignore the Palestinian oppression," Gigi had said. "It does not add up."

Bella pointed out that future generations would look back in disbelief and wonder how we allowed the Palestinian suffering to continue for so long.

Comments

Imran May 16, 2021 06:18pm
All governments of Israel have used this ploy effectively of labelling people as Antisemite if they criticize the policies of the government of Israel and with that trying to shame people into not criticizing their inhumane policies.
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Khazima May 16, 2021 06:35pm
History pages also tell us that when Jews and muslims were brutally exiled from Spain during 15 century they were warmly welcomed by ottomon muslim rulers and had been given lands and business opportunities generously. But today Jews in Israel cannot retaliate the same towards Palestinians.
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farid May 16, 2021 07:28pm
Courage is rare and people who keep silent are cowards.
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well-wisher May 16, 2021 07:40pm
Just free Palestine, the homeland.
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SidC May 16, 2021 07:56pm
Muslim immigrant loves to live in US and raised there kids in US. They forget US is biggest supporter of Israel and Zionism. I call it total Hypocrisy.
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Aamir May 16, 2021 08:22pm
Being Anti Semitic should no more be a crime.
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Sami May 16, 2021 09:20pm
Good to see Hadids talking on this issue..
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Abul May 16, 2021 10:36pm
I admire the reasoning of hadid family. They without mincing words spoke the truth which many believe in but for being labeled as a anti-semitic kept their peace. Respect for them. Any ideology or act which discriminates, abuses, prejudice a person or group of people for any reason is condemnable.
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UHD May 16, 2021 11:18pm
She joins pro Palestinian's protestors in New York. How can you believe her ?
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truth May 17, 2021 09:00am
U live in USA and enjoy all benefits and speak this
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Ahmed May 17, 2021 02:19pm
That is a hackneyed charge often raised against anyone who dares to criticize the many atrocities committed against the hapless Palestinians. Amazingly, they portray Israel as the victim rather than the aggressor in Palestine.
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Afaq Sher May 17, 2021 10:59pm
@truth if speaking against injustice is wrong because you are living or a citizen of a certain country.
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Shakil Khan May 18, 2021 11:00pm
There is considerable similiarities between Kashmir and Palestine issues. It is failure of the major cummunities to accept the minorities with language, calcultural differences. Hindus acceptance of Muslims Arab's acceptance of Jewish community. The only way is emmotional acceptance of each other
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