Bella, Gigi Hadid donate $1M to Palestinian aid efforts: Report
What's the story
Supermodel siblings Gigi and Bella Hadid have committed a joint donation of $1M toward relief efforts in Palestine. The funds are set to be equally divided among four organizations: HEAL Palestine, Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), World Central Kitchen (WCK), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). These groups offer humanitarian aid including food, medical programs, support for displaced families, and psychological services amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Voicing concern
Donations follow Bella's recent Cannes appearance dedicated to Palestine
The Hadid sisters' donation follows Bella's recent trip to the Cannes Film Festival last month, where she appeared in a red and white dress crafted from traditional Arabic cloth linked to Palestinian culture. She expressed that it was "a beautiful way to represent the history, labor of love, resilience, and, most importantly, the art of historic Palestinian embroidery." Notably, the sisters—whose father is Palestinian property tycoon Mohamed Anwar Hadid—have been outspoken in their advocacy for those impacted.
Advocacy
Hadid sisters' public support for Palestine
Following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, Gigi took to Instagram, expressing, "My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict - too many of which are children." She conveyed her "deep empathy" for the Palestinian struggle and life, stating, "It's a responsibility I hold daily." Additionally, she emphasized, "While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person."
War
It all started on October 7 last year
To recall, on October 7, the conflict erupted when Hamas militants initiated an unprecedented assault on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and the capture of 252 individuals taken back to Gaza as hostages. In response, the Jewish nation launched a multi-pronged military operation in the strip, which has reportedly claimed the lives of over 36,000 Palestinians so far, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Relief groups
Beneficiary organizations of Hadid sisters' donation
HEAL Palestine, a nonpolitical, nonprofit humanitarian group, aims to "provide every young Palestinian in Gaza a chance for a brighter future." The PCRF, established in 1991, offers free medical care to injured and ill children. World Central Kitchen delivers chef-prepared meals to communities affected by crises and has delivered over 400M meals. The UNRWA US National Committee supports humanitarian assistance for Palestine refugees with the mission to "lift up the voices, experiences and humanity of Palestine refugees."