Olivia Rodrigo Speaks Out Against ‘Horrific & Completely Unacceptable' Conditions in Palestine
In a message posted to her Instagram Story over the weekend, the pop star shared her thoughts on the 'horrific and completely unacceptable' conditions families in Palestine have been facing for nearly two years. Hunger and homelessness have run rampant in Gaza since Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 more as hostages on Oct. 7, 2023, after which Israel launched a war on the terrorist group that has resulted in the deaths of more than 58,000 people, according to Reuters.
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'there are no words to describe the heartbreak I feel witnessing the devastation that is being inflicted upon innocent people in Palestine,' Rodrigo began. 'mothers, fathers and children in Gaza are starving, dehydrated and being denied access to basic medical care and humanitarian aid.'
'there is no child in Israel, Palestine or anywhere in the world who deserves to suffer through what we're seeing these children have to endure,' she continued. 'it is horrific and completely unacceptable. to give up on them is to give up on our shared humanity.'
The Grammy winner went on to share that she has donated to Unicef to 'help support the victims of this horrifying situation,' adding that she encourages followers 'to do the same if you have the means.'
Rodrigo is just the latest artist to speak up about the violence in Gaza. In recent weeks, Lana Del Rey has said that she prays for Palestine 'every day,' while Billie Eilish disavowed Israel's plan to forcibly relocate about 2 million Palestinians to a 'humanitarian city' built on the ruins of Rafah, calling the concept 'horrifying.'
The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series alum has also long been outspoken when it comes to her beliefs, from endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election to using her shows to protest attacks on reproductive freedom. In February last year, Rodrigo launched her Fund 4 Good, which raises money for abortion funds across the globe — an undertaking that led Planned Parenthood to honor her with a Catalyst for Change award at the organization's spring gala in April.
'We live in a world that politicizes our bodies and uses harmful ideologies to deny us safety and healthcare,' Rodrigo said during her speech at the event. 'My greatest wish is that through organizations like Planned Parenthood and the action of everyday citizens, no woman will need to sacrifice her dreams, her health or humanity because of restrictive laws or lack of resources.'
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