{"id":14741,"date":"2023-10-16T13:11:54","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T13:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/mahira-to-sonam-celebrities-are-speaking-truth-to-power-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-10-16T13:11:54","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T13:11:54","slug":"mahira-to-sonam-celebrities-are-speaking-truth-to-power-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/mahira-to-sonam-celebrities-are-speaking-truth-to-power-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Mahira to Sonam, celebrities are speaking truth to power | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Authorities in Gaza said at least 2,670 Palestinians had so far been killed by Israel’s brutal retaliatory strikes, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Another 1,000 people were missing and believed to be under rubble, as per reports by AFP and Reuters. More than one million people have fled their homes in Gaza in scenes of chaos and despair as Israel bombarded the besieged territory and continued massing troops in preparation for a full-blown ground invasion.<\/p>\n

In response to the escalating violence, various Pakistani celebrities have taken a stand by participating in or sharing insights about protests held both within Pakistan and on an international scale.<\/p>\n

Actor Osman Khalid Butt took to Twitter to criticize world leaders for either maintaining a neutral stance amidst a genocide or speaking passively about Israel’s war crimes. Sharing a tweet by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Butt urged, \u201cCan the world leaders stop with the passive voice now that Israel\u2019s lies stand exposed, when there is overwhelming evidence about the genocide and war crimes being committed, when entire Palestinian bloodlines are being wiped out?\u201d<\/p>\n

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After willfully spreading misinformation, unequivocally supporting a genocidal oppressor and dehumanizing Palestinians, did you not see this coming, @POTUS<\/a>? https:\/\/t.co\/1RXaBRYesi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) October 16, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Can world leaders stop with the passive voice now that Israel\u2019s lies stand exposed, when there is overwhelming evidence about the genocide and war crimes being committed, when entire Palestinian bloodlines are being wiped out? https:\/\/t.co\/AKtBetCRtx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) October 15, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Renowned actor Mahira Khan shared a post offering a visual of a child against the backdrop of bombing and bloodshed in Palestine. The post was captioned, \u201cI wish I could hide you in my heart when the bombs fell.\u201d To this, Mahira, commented, \u201cI wish, I wish, I wish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Armeena Khan shared images of a protest for Palestine in Canada. The protest also marked a first for her recently born daughter. She wrote in the caption, \u201cAmelie at her first protest with dada, standing up for all the babies brutalised. Children are innocent, they need to be spared. May I never know it but I\u2019m pretty sure losing a child is the WORST pain in the world that I wish on NO parent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Host Anoushey Ashraf held a Q&A session with her fans to inquire about what\u2019s bothering them. When a user wrote, \u201cwar in Palestine,\u201d Anoushey commented, \u201cThe suffering we’ve witnessed over the past few days is beyond comprehension. Imagine experiencing everything firsthand. What’s more disturbing is the deafening silence of the world ‘leaders’. This will go down in history as the new age holocaust. The oppressed have become the oppressors. They’ve learned nothing. The tide will turn, the dust will settle but only our spirit of resistance will remain. Don’t let the spirit die, carry the cause of the oppressed in your hearts forever. That is the only victory we need. Reminds me of Imam’s Hussayn’s fight in Karbala. Lives were lost, but the fight for what’s right, the truth won. He won. Our cause won. Palestine will win for it will always be alive in the hearts of people.\u201d In a separate Story, she shared a post reading, \u201cThe devil works hard but Israel\u2019s propaganda team works harder.\u201d Alongside this, she wrote \u201cMarketing, marketing, marketing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Singer Arooj Aftab emphasized the importance of compassion and support for the affected regions. She also called out brands, corporations and music industry giants for letting their malice show. \u201cGreat, thank you corporations, brands and music industry giants for letting everyone know what side you’re on,\u201d she wrote in an IG Story. \u201cFor everyone else, to effectively not be a genocide monger, please call your representatives and government officials and ask for the immediate halt and de-escalation of all violence and bombings and militant\/military activity. Allow entry for humanitarian aid and assistance. Allow for the protection of people across the whole region.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Actors Ushna Shah and Saba Qamar stood in solidarity with Palestine, showcasing the global support for the Palestinian cause and reiterating the importance of unity in the face of injustice. Actor Adnan Malik shared a video of a protest for Palestine held in London. The post declared, \u201cWhen we said \u2018never again\u2019 after the holocaust, we meant never again for anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Director Sarmad Khoosat shared a heart-wrenching account of a father in war-torn Gaza about how he exchanged his children with that of his brother\u2019s, in hopes that that one of each of them would survive in case a bomb drops on their houses. Khoosat lamented, \u201cA million piece \u2013 my heart.\u201d Actor, model and plastic surgeon Fahad Mirza shared a Story as well. \u201cAs we get on with our routine lives today, remember today a whole population of human beings is being exterminated at the same time!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Indian actor Sonam Kapoor, in a surprising move, shared pro-Palestine posts, despite her home country’s neutral stance. One was a picture with the caption: \u201cHalf of the people in Gaza are children.\u201d The other one was a quote from a New York Times article written by Nicholas Kristof which condemned the one-sided apathy towards Palestinian children. \u201cIf we owe a moral responsibility to Israeli children, we owe the same moral responsibility to Palestinian children. Their lives have equal weight. If you care about human life only in Israel or Gaza, then you don\u2019t actually care about human life.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Indian actress Sonam Kapoor’s instagram story in support of Palestine.<\/p>\n

She has more courage than other spineless actors who cannot speak against the inhuman and injustice.<\/p>\n

More power to you Sonam you deserve all the love and respect.#FreePalestine_Now<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZPJX04bV2A<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 RheA (@rheahhh_) October 15, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Model Gigi Hadid emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the conflict, pointing out the importance of distinguishing criticism of the Israeli government from antisemitism. She stressed the need for empathy and acknowledgment of the suffering endured by the Palestinian people. \u201cThere is nothing Jewish about the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians. Condemning the Israeli government is not antisemitic and supporting Palestinians is not supporting Hamas.\u201d And another post reading, \u201cHow privileged are we to get to sleep tonight while 3 million of our brothers and sisters are being bombed without food, water or electricity.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n