As Israel’s assault on Rafah continues and intensifies, Kehlani has called out her peers in the music industry for not speaking up.
On Sunday evening, Israel launched a missile attack on Rafah that set fire to an encampment of displaced Palestinians in the Tal As-Sultan neighborhood, killing at least 45 people and wounding at least 249, many of them reported to be women and children. According to a physician in Rafah who spoke to NPR, people were “literally burned alive in their tents,” which were set up in an area that Israel itself had reportedly designated as a “safe zone.” One camp resident told the Washington Post that in the aftermath he saw “dismembered bodies, charred bodies, children without heads, bodies as if they had melted.”
The attack, which is the latest in Israel’s ongoing siege and bombardment of the Gaza Strip that has killed at least 36,615 Palestinians since October 7, has sparked international outcry. Following Sunday's assault, leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron demanded an immediate ceasefire and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that the attacks “can no longer be justified,” according to CNBC. The attack took place mere days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah. The Israeli military has said that the attack was intended to target a Hamas compound in Rafah, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the killing of dozens of civilians a “tragic mistake.”
Kehlani, who uses both she and they pronouns, posted a series of videos to Instagram on Sunday night, calling out their “highly fucking platformed” peers in the music industry “who have already beat the fucking game” for not speaking out about Palestine. “And you can’t stop for a second and recognize that… nothing we do has a fucking purpose without people and you can’t turn the fuck around and reach back for people? You can’t speak? Disgusting!”
She also opened up about the help and support she has required from her friends, family, and therapist “to sort [her] out in October.” “And I am feeling October levels of rage,” the singer said.
While they didn’t name names, Kehlani talked about artist acquaintances who interact with them on social media and reach out to them for collaboration. However, the singer said that she has lost “any ounce of fucking respect” for those who have not spoken up.
Speaking about the enormity and impact of Israel’s ongoing attacks on Palestine, which some international law experts have called a genocide, Kehlani said, “This is going to be in history books.” “This is going to be something that is referenced for the rest of fucking forever,” the singer added.
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Other than Kehlani, perhaps the most mainstream musician to have made such a bold statement in favor of protecting Palestinian people is Macklemore, who dropped a song called “Hind’s Hall” earlier this month. The two expressed mutual admiration for each other on their stories, with the rapper showing appreciation for Kehlani being the first artist that he saw speaking out for Palestine. Other LGBTQ+ celebrities who have continually been vocal advocates for a ceasefire in Gaza include Indya Moore, Sara Ramirez, and Susan Sarandon.
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