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By Sophie Lloyd
Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter
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A group of Taylor Swift fans is asking the pop star to "speak up" in support of Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war.
Using the hashtag #SwiftiesForPalestine, the group is urging fellow Swift fans to call on the singer to publicly advocate for civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas, launching airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which the group has governed since 2006.
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Alongside tagging Swift in social media posts on the subject, members of the group lucky enough to snag Eras tour tickets are exchanging friendship bracelets in the colors of the Palestinian flag, while others have created artworks to mobilize the Swiftie community.
The Grammy winner has yet to comment on the divisive topic—not surprising, considering the backlash other celebrities have faced after voicing their opinions on the conflict.
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Taylor Swift on Palestine
Since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October, many celebrities have shared their thoughts on the situation.
Supplies of food, water, energy and fuel to Gaza were suspended before Israel launched a ground offensive into the territory in late October.
As of May 29, more than 36,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to The Associated Press. The organization cited the Gaza Health Ministry, although the ministry does not differentiate between civilian and military deaths. According to the International Rescue Committee, an estimated 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been made homeless by the fighting.
In recent months, some celebrities have expressed support for Israel, while others have advocated for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip—with both groups receiving backlash, and even a loss of career opportunities, as a result.
Other celebrities have attempted to maintain a neutral stance, but that hasn't stopped them from facing public scrutiny. Nor has staying quiet on the topic, particularly if the celeb has been vocal about other causes.
Swift's silence on the conflict has irked some of her Palestinian-supporting fans. The 34-year-old was known for not discussing politics or social issues early in her career. However, after hitting next level heights of stardom, Swift began to speak out on issues close to her heart, such as advocating for the Equality Act—which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity—and backing President Joe Biden in the 2020 general election.
Following an Israeli airstrike on a makeshift camp at the Gazan city of Rafah on Sunday, and a second airstrike on Tuesday, #SwiftiesFor Palestine began trending on X, the social network formerly Twitter.
"[Taylor Swift], we are calling for you to speak up NOW," posted user Soph, tagging her in the post. "To donate to Palestinian families fleeing the bombing in Gaza NOW. To spread awareness about the massacre in Rafah NOW."
"Swifties, it's time for you to take a Palestinian flag to #TSTheErasTour. Every action matters!!" wrote @WolfyToto.
"If you're attending any eras shows please consider making and exchanging Palestine bracelets!" said Bloom. "If you can, bring the Palestinian flag, posters, etc. We must keep Palestine in the public eye and encourage Taylor to speak up."
User @flamingopuddle shared a snippet from Swift's 2020 Netflix biopic, Miss Americana, in which the "Antihero" singer passionately talks about defending herself from slander in her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
"Where did this go?" @flamingopuddle asked Swift tagging her in the post. "This was you not many years ago, and we need this type of energy back."
Newsweek has reached out to Taylor Swift for comment via email.
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