Taylor Swift fans are urging the singer to speak out about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, with some even demonstrating at her "Eras" tour in Europe. Following a devastating airstrike on Rafah this past Sunday, which reportedly killed 45 Palestinians, many celebrities have taken to social media to call for a ceasefire. However, Taylor has remained notably silent, leading to the hashtag #SwiftiesforPalestine gaining traction on X (formerly Twitter).
At her recent concerts, several fans have shown their pro-Palestine support by creating "Free Palestine" friendship bracelets and holding signs with messages like "We Demand Swift Action" and "Speak Now." Some attendees have even brought Palestinian flags to her European shows, with one image going viral of a fan hanging the flag from a balcony at a recent performance. Swifties are circulating these images and encouraging others to do the same at her future shows. Currently, Taylor is performing in Spain.
Although Taylor has yet to address the situation, some of her collaborators have voiced their support for Palestine. Paramore, who is opening for Taylor on the tour, urged their fans to donate to Doctors Without Borders, highlighting the organization’s work in Gaza.
They stated on Instagram, "We do not believe that support for our Palestinian friends and family equals anti-Semitism. We love our Jewish friends and family and pray for the safe return of the remaining hostages." They added, "That being said, we simply cannot support a genocide. We stand in solidarity with those calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire."
Jack Antonoff, Taylor's longtime record producer, also expressed support for Palestine by sharing the "All Eyes on Rafah" artwork. This sentiment was echoed by other celebrities like Joe Alwyn, Gigi Hadid, January Jones, Alison Brie, Tan France, Kid Cudi, and Priyanka Chopra.
Taylor, who famously avoided political stances early in her career, made headlines in 2020 by endorsing Joe Biden for president. With increasing pressure from her fan base and other celebrities, it remains to be seen whether she will address the current issue in the Middle East. As this movement continues to grow, only time will tell if Taylor will respond to her fans' calls for action.