Palestine

“DJ Khaled Is A B*tch” Becomes Viral Pro-Palestine Sentiment Amid Rapper’s Silence On Middle East Conflict

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The internet continues to hate on DJ Khaled for remaining silent on the Israel-Palestine conflict. It has been nearly a month since an incursion into Israel by the militant organization Hamas led to a full-scale war between Israel and the two enclaves that form Palestine. While other celebrities who initially remained silent have since spoken out, Khaled – who is Palestinian – has not formally spoken about the war. Furthermore, this has led to criticism from the likes of DJ Vlad, who said that Khaled’s voice would be “powerful.”

Things reached a fervor pitch this weekend after a image of a woman holding a Khaled-oriented sign at a pro-Palestinian march in Paris went viral. The perfectly-framed image sees the woman looking directly at the camera while holding a handwritten sign. Reading “DJ Khaled is a b-tch”, the sign became a major rallying cry. This weekend saw millions of people around the world marching in solidarity with Palestine and amplifying calls for a ceasefire.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Questions Whether Drake Still Identifies As Jewish

Israel-Palestine: Latest Updates

This week will mark one month since the deadly Hamas incursion into southern Israel that led to all-out war. With the Palestinian death toll alone nearing 10,000, the past week has been focused on calls for a ceasefire. As Israeli troops surrounded Gaza City, reports emerged of the US warning Israel that there was an expiration date on their support. With public support in the US for Israel rapidly eroding, State Department officials reportedly told Israel that they could not unequivocally support them forever.

Meanwhile, scores of reports of atrocities against civilians continue to flood in. Earlier in the week, the story of an Israeli airstrike targeting an ambulance went viral. Israeli sources made unsubstantiated claims that Hamas was using the ambulance to move military equipment. Elsewhere, many were left dead on November 5 after multiple airstrikes on a refugee camp in Gaza. Additionally, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also traveled to Iran. His hope is to stop the conflict from spilling over into other parts of the region.

Read More: Dave Chappelle’s Israel-Palestine Comments Lead To Walkouts At Boston Show

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Macklemore Speaks At “Free Palestine” Rally In D.C.: “This Is A Genocide”

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Macklemore labeled Israel’s treatment of Palestinians a “genocide” while speaking at a “Free Palestine” rally in Washington D.C. on Saturday. The demonstration was held in protest of Israel’s latest retaliation for Hamas’ terror attacks on October 7, which killed more than 1,400 people. In response, Israel’s military has killed over 9,000 people living in Gaza, including large percentages of women and children, all according to reports from CNN.

“I didn’t expect to be on a microphone,” Macklemore told the crowd, as noted by Billboard. “There are thousands of people here more qualified to speak on the issue of a free Palestine than myself. But I will say this: They told me to be quiet. They told me to do my research, to go back, that it’s too complex to say something, right? To be silent in this moment. In the last three weeks, I’ve gone back and I’ve done some research … I’m teachable. I don’t know enough. But I know enough that this is a genocide.”

Read More: Barack Obama Addresses “Complexity” Of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Macklemore Performs At Lollapalooza

BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 10: Macklemore performs live on stage during a concert at day 2 of Lollapalooza Berlin 2023 at Olympiapark on September 10, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gina Wetzler/Redferns)

Saturday isn’t the first time Macklemore has spoken out on the issue. On October 19, he also released a statement on social media. He wrote at the time: “I have been in fear. I have felt a literal lump in my throat and I cannot stay silent any longer. I condemn the murder of any human. The bombings, kidnappings and murder of the Israeli people carried out by Hamas was horrific in every way imaginable. My heart deeply hurts for the Israelis that lost loved ones to such an abomination. As a father I cannot imagine if one my kids was at that festival, or was still missing after being kidnapped. It is absolutely unfathomable. But 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.”

Macklemore is far from the first voice in the music industry to speak out on the conflict. After being criticized for his silence, Drake recently signed a letter penned to President Joe Biden calling for a ceasefire in the region.

Read More: Drake Breaks Silence On Israel-Palestine Conflict, Signs Letter Calling For Ceasefire

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Barack Obama Addresses “Complexity” Of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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Barack Obama has spoken out about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the first time since the Israeli military’s latest offensive against Hamas in Gaza City. While appearing on the podcast Pod Save America, the former President of the United States focused on the “complexity” of the situation.

“If there’s any chance of us being able to act constructively to do something, it will require an admission of complexity and maintaining what on the surface may seem contradictory ideas that what Hamas did was horrific, and there’s no justification for it. And … that the occupation and what’s happening to Palestinians is unbearable,” Obama said.

Read More: Drake Breaks Silence On Israel-Palestine Conflict, Signs Letter Calling For Ceasefire

Barack Obama Speaks At The Obama Foundation Democracy Forum

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 03: Former President Barack. Obama speaks to attendees at the Obama Foundation Democracy Forum on November 03, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama spoke about economic inclusion is fundamental to safeguarding and expanding democracies in countries around the world. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

From there, Obama spoke about the discourse he’s seen on social media, specifically TikTok. “If you want to solve the problem, then you have to take in the whole truth, and you then have to admit nobody’s hands are clean – that all of us are complicit to some degree,” he said. Obama added that he’d rather see people “out there talking to people,” than online. He further continued: “Including people who you disagree with. If you genuinely want to change this … you’ve got to figure out how to speak to somebody on the other side and listen to them and understand what they are talking about and not dismiss it.”

Barack Obama Discusses The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Obama is one of several influential figures who have spoken out about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent weeks. After being criticized for his silence on the matter, Drake signed a letter penned to President Joe Biden calling for a ceasefire in the war. Be on the lookout for further updates on the conflict on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Drake’s Dad Defends Rapper’s Silence On Israel-Palestine

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Drake Breaks Silence On Israel-Palestine Conflict, Signs Letter Calling For Ceasefire

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After weeks of mounting criticism over his silence on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, Drake has finally spoken out. Drizzy was one of many musicians who signed an open letter calling for the US government, a major ally of Israel, to push for a cease-fire to at least temporarily end the conflict between the two sides. It comes in stark contrast to another celebrity being circulated. That letter re-affirms American support for Israel and thanks President Biden for supporting Israel.

“We urge your administration, Congress, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay. An end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages. Half of Gaza’s two million residents are children, and more than two-thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them,” the letter that Drake signed reads in part.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Questions Whether Drake Still Identifies As Jewish

Israel-Palestine Conflict: Latest Updates

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is entering its fourth week. As the death toll nears 10,000, Israeli tanks and ground forces were seen entering the Gaza Strip. Over 8000 of the dead are Palestinians, with thousands of children among the dead. This comes after several days of relentless bombing by the Israeli Air Force. The intense bombing was preceded by a total communication blackout for the embattled enclave. Furthermore, Israeli rhetoric has intensified, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that the war was for “Israel’s existence”.

Furthermore, despite Israel claiming that the war was to eradicate the militant group Hamas, violence has intensified in the West Bank. The West Bank is the other enclave that forms Palestine and is not controlled by Hamas. 110 Palestinians are believed to have been killed in the West Bank at the time of writing. Elsewhere, the Palestinian Red Cross have stated that the latest Israeli airstrikes have caused significant damage to Gaza’s largest hospital. Despite Israel ordered the hospital to be evacuated, multiple sources have said that the demand is impossible to execute.

Read More: Dave Chappelle’s Israel-Palestine Comments Lead To Walkouts At Boston Show

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DJ Akademiks Questions Whether Drake Still Identifies As Jewish

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DJ Akademiks discussed Drake’s decision to remain silent on the conflict between Israel and Palestine while speaking with DJ Vlad for a new interview. Vlad previously criticized both Drake and DJ Khaled for their silence on the topic.

“I do think when it comes to Drake and Khaled, it’s probably a concerted effort of not trying to isolate people,” Akademiks began. “It’s like, ‘If I say something, what will it even matter?’” To that point, Vlad disagrees, citing their billions of followers. When Akademiks proposed the idea of putting out a vague statement on the matter, Vlad described it as a “start.”

Read More: DJ Vlad Condemns Drake & DJ Khaled For Silence On Israel-Palestine Conflict

Drake Performs In New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA – SEPTEMBER 02: Aubrey Drake Graham aka Drake at Smoothie King Center on September 2, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Later in the interview, Akademiks wonders whether Drake even still identifies as Jewish, noting that he rarely speaks about it. “I think he’s gone away from trying to be the, ‘Hey, this is the Jewish rapper,’” Akademiks said. He also brought up Kendrick Lamar’s commitment to the Black community as a comparison. Check out Akademiks and Vlad’s conversation below.

DJ Akademiks Discusses Drake’s Silence On Israel

As for Vlad’s previous comments, he called out Drake and Khaled in a lengthy rant on social media, earlier this month. He wrote in part: “It’s because both are so thirsty to maintain their relevance that they wouldn’t dare risk insulting a segment of their fanbase. Heaven forbid that Drake might debut at #2 behind Taylor Swift because some of his Palestinian fans chose to not stream his album. And it would be the end of the world if Khaled sold a few less sneakers because some Jewish people decided not to buy his Jordans. That’s the difference between artists of today and timeless legends like 2Pac. You know damn well Pac would be the first one to speak out about something so close to home.” Be on the lookout for any comments from Drake on the matter on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: DJ Vlad On Drake And DJ Khaled Comments: “Their Voices Are Powerful”

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Dave Chappelle’s Israel-Palestine Comments Lead To Walkouts At Boston Show

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Dave Chappelle saw several audience members walk out of his show in Boston after he decided to speak on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. No footage of the set is online, as Chappelle confiscated the audience’s phones before he began. While Chappelle condemned the initial Hamas attack on Israel, he said that students in the US shouldn’t be losing job offers for supporting Palestine. Several Ivy League students have reported experiencing such consequences for publicly supporting Palestine.

However, Chappelle doubled down, stating that the Israeli response to the Hamas attack has been disproportionate and going as far as to accuse Israel of war crimes. Not stopping there, Chappelle also accused the US of aiding and abetting the Israeli atrocities thanks to their full-throated support fo the nation. The comments led several audience members to leave the show early, according to sources who spoke with TMZ.

Read More: Mia Khalifa Let Go From Playboy After Voicing Support For Palestine

Israel-Palestine: Latest Updates

Dave Chappelle
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 02: Dave Chappelle attends De La Soul’s The DA.I.S.Y. Experience, produced in conjunction with Amazon Music, at Webster Hall on March 02, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Amazon)

As fighting enters its third week, the death toll is set to exceed 6000, with a vast majority of the reported deaths being Palestinians. While some aid relief has been allowed into the Gaza Strip, Israel maintains an iron fist around the occupied enclave. Furthermore, fingers continue to be pointed over the destruction of a Gazan hospital this week. Israeli sources initially claimed credit for the attack. However, tweets were edited and statements amended to blame a failed Hamas rocket attack. Independent investigations are inconclusive at this time. However, early indications suggest that the munitions used to destroy the hospital came from Israel and not Gaza

Meanwhile, the violence has begun to spread outside of the Middle East. A six-year-old Palestinian boy was murdered by his landlord in Chicago. The self-proclaimed MAGA supporter reportedly forced entry into the apartment and stabbed the boy to death. Elsewhere, a synagogue president in Detroit was found stabbed to death outside her home. Police have not yet established a motive for the murder.

Read More: Kylie Jenner Deletes Post Supporting Israel, Mia Khalifa Calls On Journalists To Hold Her Accountable

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Macklemore Makes Bold Statement About Israel-Hamas Conflict

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Much of the news cycle this month has been dominated by the conflict emerging between Israel and Palestine. Many celebrities have taken the opportunity to share their thoughts on the situation, though they’ve also faced criticism as a result. Many have published very generic pro-Israel messages which are often met by cries from fans to consider the situation with a lot more nuance. Consequently, one person who impressed fans with his detailed take on the situation was OVO producer Noah “40” Shebib. He shared a multi-slide post urging his followers to take all sides into consideration and received praise from many in the music industry as a result.

Now, Macklemore is joining him. The rapper shared his own even more robust statement on the conflict. He denounced the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel as many have, but that wasn’t it. He also called out the Israeli government for the way it’s treated civilians. Mack even went as far as to describe their actions in more serious terms. “We are witnessing an unfolding genocide in Palestine at this very moment. A U.S.-backed human catastrophe in front of our eyes. Gaza is being demolished. Well over 1 million people have lost their homes. Schools, hospitals, places of worship obliterated,” he said. Check out his entire statement on Instagram below.

Read More: Macklemore Enlists Armani White For “No Bad Days” Remix

Macklemore Shares His Thoughts On Israel Conflict

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by BEN (@macklemore)

“We all have a voice and a platform to stand for what is right and just. Even if it’s a one-on-one conversation with someone,” he said later in his statement. Subsequently, as has been the case for many other celebs fans swarmed the comments to praise his statement. “Much respect brother, the vast majority of the people in your industry don’t have the Courage to say and spell out what you just did,” one of the top comments on the post reads.

Earlier this year Macklemore released his first new album in 6 years. The project was called Ben and featured appearances from artists like DJ Premier, NLE Choppa, and Morray. What do you think of Macklemore’s statement on the conflict in Israel and his willingness to call out both sides? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Chance The Rapper Reveals “A Lot Of Negatives” During Tour With Macklemore In Europe

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Dennis Graham Defends Drake’s Silence On Israel-Palestine

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Drake‘s father Dennis Graham defended his son’s decision not to speak out on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine during an interview with TMZ, Sunday. Graham argued that celebrities are “damned if they do, damned if they don’t” when it comes to discussing politics. Many voices have criticized the Toronto rapper’s silence, including DJ Vlad.

“I’m sure it affects everybody, you know what I’m saying?” Graham said to the outlet. “But just stay out of it, especially if you’re somebody that’s well-known.” He continued: “But be a celebrity and favor one against the other, and it’s going to come back on you. Stay out of it.”

Read More: Dennis Graham Calls Out Joe Budden Amid Drake Feud

Dennis Graham With Drake At The Billboard Music Awards

LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 21: Recording artist Drake (L) accepts the Top Artist award onstage with his father Dennis Graham during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

As for DJ Vlad’s criticism of Drake, he condemned the rapper along with DJ Khlaed in a lengthy post on Twitter, last week. He wrote: “Has anyone noticed that the most famous Jewish person on Earth, Drake, and the most famous Palestinian person on Earth, DJ Khaled, haven’t said a single thing about the Gaza-Israel conflict? It’s not like Drake is too busy. He’s been writing paragraphs about Joe Budden hurting his feelings about his new album.” He further theorized: “It’s because both are so thirsty to maintain their relevance that they wouldn’t dare risk insulting a segment of their fanbase. Heaven forbid that Drake might debut at #2 behind Taylor Swift because some of his Palestinian fans chose to not stream his album.”

Dennis Graham Comes To Drake’s Defense

It’s not the only time Graham has spoken out in defense of Drake in recent weeks. Amid Drake’s feud with Joe Budden, Graham also took his son’s side. Be on the lookout for any update on whether Drake breaks his silence on Israel and Palestine on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: DJ Vlad Condemns Drake & DJ Khaled For Silence On Israel-Palestine Conflict

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Erica Mena Weighs In On Israel-Palestine Conflict: “This Is Literally A Genocide”

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Erica Mena broke down into tears while discussing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine on Instagram Live, earlier this week. The post comes after Mena was fired from Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta for using a racist slur during an argument with Spice, earlier this year.

“I love y’all, I appreciate y’all. I just want to clarify that because I really don’t want anyone to feel any type of way towards me,” she prefaced her comments, “I just really cannot be quiet knowing this is going on. This is literally a genocide in 2023. And us as Americans, we should do our part. We live in a free country, let’s be free to do what’s right for humanity, not religion, not land, not government, not politics, humanity.”

Read More: Bow Wow Might’ve Shaded Erica Mena On Instagram, Fans Call Him Out

Erica Mena Attends BET Social Awards

ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 11: Erica Mena attends BET’s Social Awards 2018 at Tyler Perry Studio on February 11, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

From there she admitted that the topic is “affecting” her and thanked fans for their continued support. When The Neighborhood Talk shared her video on Instagram, fans had mixed responses. “Girl. Please. The slurs you use freely are remnants of the genocide black humans have faced. Just go back to sleep, chile,” one user wrote. Another wrote: “Erica pleaseeeeeeee this ain’t how you come back, hang it up and try again.” Check out Mena’s full post below.

Erica Mena Discusses Israel & Palestine

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

It’s not the first time that Mena has commented on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. On Saturday, she took her support to Twitter: “My heart hurts so much for all these innocent children, babies, women and the elderly. An actual genocide is happening right now and so many are quiet about it. Embarrassed our country is the funding behind it.” Be on the lookout for further updates on the conflict on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Spice Breaks Her Silence Amid Erica Mena Slur Controversy

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Drake’s Dad Defends Rapper’s Silence On Israel-Palestine

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Drake’s father Dennis Graham has said he fully supports his son’s decision to remain silent on Israel-Palestine. Speaking with TMZ, Graham said that celebrities always get backlash when they speak on hot-button issues and he imagined that Drake speaking on the Middle East conflict would be no different. Celebrities are “damned either way” he lamented during the conversation.

The Canadian rapper has gotten a fair amount of heat for being one of the most notable figures not to release a statement about the ongoing conflict. DJ Vlad in particular has gone hard on Drake’s silence. “Has anyone noticed that the most famous Jewish person on Earth, Drake, and the most famous Palestinian person on Earth, DJ Khaled, haven’t said a single thing about the Gaza-Israel conflict?  It’s not like Drake is too busy. He’s been writing paragraphs about Joe Budden hurting his feelings about his new album.  DJ Khaled has been working overtime promoting his new Jordan sneakers. But both of them have been silent on this topic. Why is that?” Vlad asked. In a follow-up statement, he said that he had called them out because “their voices are powerful”.

Read More: Drake Loses $850K Bet Despite Logan Paul Win

Israel-Palestine: Lastest Updates

While Drake remains silent, the situation in Gaza grows ever more dire. A UN report suggests that fuel supplies in the enclave will only last another two days, putting already overcrowded hospitals at further risk. Meanwhile, the IDF has ordered over 1 million inhabitants of northern Gaza to evacuate to the south. However, many are afraid to do this after reports emerged of Israel bombing refugee convoys.

Elsewhere, Israeli troops are amassing on the Gazan border with a ground operation expected in the coming days. Furthermore, a Reuters videographer was killed when an Israeli shell hit a gathering of multi-national journalists covering fighting on the southern Lebanon border. Six others, who have been identified as Reuters, Al-Jazeera, and Agence France-Presse employees, were wounded in the incident. Overall, over 3600 people have died in the week following a brutal Hamas incursion into Israel. Additionally, Palestinian officials state that their death toll has already made it the greatest loss of life from the Palestinian side in any conflict with Israel to date.

Read More: Kylie Jenner Deletes Post Supporting Israel, Mia Khalifa Calls On Journalists To Hold Her Accountable

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