Mural of rapper Macklemore painted in Gaza after Ed Sheeran tour furore
asserted
Mural → paint → furore
Artists in Gaza have painted a mural of Macklemore wrapped in a Palestinian flag on a huge slab of concrete in the ruins of Gaza City, after the US rapper was kicked off Ed Sheeran’s upcoming tour for calling for a “Free Palestine”.
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rapper → paint → Palestine
The mural, on a slab that leans against ruined buildings surrounded by rubble, depicts the “Thrift Shop” rapper raising a fist in the air.
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rapper → lean → air
“Thank you for using your voice for Palestine,” it reads.
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it → thank → Palestine
“We wanted to send a message to thank rapper Macklemore in this simple way,” said Anne Redwan, 26, who designed and painted the mural with fellow artist Qusai al-Helo.
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who → want → Helo
“As an artist living under siege here in Gaza, we are waiting for support from anyone who can see (the) persecution we live under,” she told Reuters.
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she → live → Reuters
“We can paint murals bigger than this to express our feelings.”
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We → paint → feelings
Macklemore, who has long supported Palestinian causes, was cut from British pop star Sheeran’s musical line-up over remarks on stage criticising Israel’s military assault in Gaza, which was launched after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israel in October 2023.
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fighters → support → October
Sheeran said he was unable to keep Macklemore on the tour after stadium owners refused to let him appear.
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him → say → tour
US billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts where his New England Patriots American football team plays, said he had barred Macklemore from appearing there for anti-Semitism, which the rapper denies.
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rapper → play → which
Nearly a year after a ceasefire ended major fighting in Gaza, reconstruction has yet to begin.
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reconstruction → end → Gaza
Most buildings have been destroyed and more than two million residents are confined to around a third of the enclave’s territory, mostly in tents or crowded rooms in damaged buildings among the ruins.
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residents → destroy → ruins
A US-brokered plan to end the war has stalled, with negotiators failing to agree conditions for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops.
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Israel → broker → troops
The furore over Sheeran’s tour has led to a series of pledges from those involved to send money.
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furore → lead → money
Macklemore said on Sept 16 he would donate his US$1 million (S$1.3 million) in net earnings from the tour to six aid groups supporting Gaza.
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he → say → Gaza
Kraft, in turn, said Sheeran had told him he would donate US$2 million for aid in the region, and had asked him to match the pledge.
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he → say → pledge
Sheeran has not commented on any donations.
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Sheeran → comment → donations
Macklemore’s donation drew a matching US$1 million pledge from Ms Rachel, a popular children’s TV personality.
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donation → draw → Rachel
Aid agency officials said the boost in celebrity attention could help bring more support to Gaza, where nearly all residents rely on aid for food, water, medical care and shelter.
uncertain
residents → say → food
“But what’s really most important is that people who have been so generous keep fighting over a sustained time,” said Toby Fricker, a local official with UNICEF.
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Fricker → ’ → UNICEF
“That’s why we really call for sustained support, not one-off peaks, but sustained.”
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we → ’ → support
Hussein Murtaja, who runs a Gaza humanitarian group that provides mental health support to children, said Macklemore’s solidarity matters more than the money he donated.
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he → run → money
“When artistes of this stature, with this many followers or fans, all come to know more about the cause, and support reaching a political solution, support achieving peace for the people of Gaza...
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artistes → come → Gaza
That means a great deal to us.”
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That → mean → us
The Aporia
