Zénith de Paris: rappers fill the room with a concert in support of the Palestinians

A concert organized at the initiative of several rappers, including PLK and Soolking, for the benefit of an NGO operating in the Palestinian territories was sold out on Thursday, a month before it was held at the Zénith in Paris. The “Palestine Solidarity” concert is scheduled for May 22 in this hall which can accommodate up to 6,800 people.

“Our objective is to contribute to the assistance and direct support of the impacted populations on site,” the organizers wrote in a press release. They promised to donate the profits to the British NGO Medical Aid for Palestinians, which they say they chose “for its religious and political independence, as well as its transparent and rigorous management of interventions”.

“Our initiative is devoid of any partisan, religious or state affiliation,” they specify. “All lives matter. We are outraged by the treatment of Palestinian civilians, often dehumanized or hidden, and we defend the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” “In a troubled and polarized context, ripe for invective and caricature, we strongly affirm our commitment against all forms of racism and discrimination, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia,” they insist.

Some artists have recently taken a stand in favor of the civilian populations in Gaza. Among them, the actress Leïla Bekhti recorded a message in favor of the children of Gaza for Unicef, and some 300 personalities from the world of culture, from Laetitia Casta to the Nobel Prize for Literature J.M.G. Le Clézio signed an open letter to President Macron “for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza”.

The war was triggered on October 7 by an unprecedented attack carried out from Gaza against Israel by Hamas commandos, which resulted in the death of 1,170 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP report based on official data. Israelis. More than 250 people have been kidnapped and 129 remain captive in Gaza, including 34 who have died, according to Israeli officials.

In retaliation, Israel promised to destroy Hamas, in power in Gaza since 2007 and classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union in particular. Its vast military operation in the Gaza Strip has so far left 34,305 dead, mostly civilians, according to Hamas.