On Sept, 17, Together For Palestine (T4P) helped fundraise money for Palestinians in Gaza at the OVO Wembley Arena in Wembley, England.
The fundraising event was organized by Brian Eno, with Khalid Abdalla, Khaled Ziada and Tracey Seward joining as well.
“This event aims to raise millions for the Palestinian-led organisations at the frontline of the crisis, such as Taawon, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the Palestine Medical Relief Society. 100% of donations made to Choose Love will support the Together For Palestine Fund and every penny goes to Palestinian organisations operating on the ground in Gaza,” T4P said on its official website.
The event was filled with entertainment and speeches made by global stars. Actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Florence Pugh, Nicola Caughman and Charitha Chandran made speeches throughout the night. Other celebrities made their presence known via social media by introducing the event, such as musician Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas and actor Cillian Murphy,
Palestinian artists Saint Levant, Adnan Joubran, Faraj Suleiman and El Far3i performed to a crowd of thousands. Other performers included Bastille, James Blake, Damon Albarn, Samoha and many more.
“Fittingly, it was the Palestinian artists who were the real stars of the evening. From Faraj Suleiman’s incredibly intricate piano pieces and Nai Barghouti’s soaring Arabic jazz, to a rotating gallery of Palestinian artwork curated by Malak Mattar, their art was embraced and celebrated by the 12,000-plus people in attendance,” The London Evening Standard said.
The event also invited UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanesem — an expert on human rights who has been the Palestine Rapporteur for the United Nations since May of 2022.
“The genocide in Gaza is a defining moment…anyone who holds a position of power, including to narrate, has the responsibility to take part in this, to make people understand that they shouldn’t feel fear to speak,” Albanesem said.
Times of Israel also mentions the attendance and contributions of Eric Cantona, a former French soccer player, who advised Israel to be banned from the World Cup of 2026.
“I played for France and Manchester United. I know that international football is more than just sport, it is culture, it is political, it is soft power,” Cantona said. “In a way that a country represents itself on a global stage, the time has come to suspend Israel from that privilege.”
Attendees called for government participation regarding the overall cause behind the concert. Specifically, Charitha Chandran addressed the English Prime Minister by saying that “we voted for you and you’re not representing us, so that feels a bit democratic. And there is blood on your hands.”
She also invites fellow actors and media present colleagues that have not used their platforms in a similar manner, “There is always time, and I understand that there is fear, but the thing is when you don’t stand for anything all you do is you fail to create a community.”
A total of £500,000 ($671,400) was made from tickets sold, followed by nearly $1,345,000 being given in donations throughout just half-way of the show. The event effectively reached the goal of raising more than $2 million for the cause of providing humanitarian relief to Gazans.
