As Joe Biden and the White House remain unfazed by the brutal Rafah airstrike, pro-Palestine Swifties turn the mounting pressure on Taylor Swift. On Sunday, May 26, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict took another dark turn when an Israeli airstrike hit a camp in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah, killing at least 45 people, including children. The incident fueled the protest calling for a ceasefire and justice for Palestine amid the ongoing war.
Despite the mass protests, Biden’s administration failed to take action or speak out against Israel. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby explained in a briefing that the president’s silence was no indication of the United States “turning a blind eye” to Israel’s operations in Gaza. Contrariwise, they believe Israel’s actions so far have not violated Joe Biden’s warnings and, hence, did not provoke a US intervention.
With Biden’s administration failing to take a stand against Israel, Pro-Palestines are turning to celebrities more earnestly to make the move. Many celebrities have since spoken out against the Rafah airstrike, voicing their support for Palestine. However, Taylor Swift, who endorsed Joe Biden in the last presidential election, is maintaining her bid to remain silent on political issues this season even in the face of the Rafah tragedy.
Taylor Swift Forced to Speak For Palestine Following Rafah Airstrike
Swifties clearly are not pleased with her continued silence. Fans have taken to various platforms to pressure Taylor Swift into addressing the Rafah strike, and possibly, supporting Palestine. The hashtag #SwiftiesforPalestines has flooded social media platforms in a bid to gain the singer’s attention.
Taylor Swift fans have also shown support for Palestine during her Eras tour in Europe, holding up placards spotlighting the movement. Writeups like “All Eyes on Rafah,” “We Demand Swift Action,” “Speak Now,” “Swifties for Palestine,” and the more direct “Taylor Take a Stand,” have hounded the singer during concerts this week. The Palestine flag has also become a staple at these concerts, with pro-Palestine fans encouraged to bring them along. Additionally, concertgoers have tweaked the friendship bracelets to read “Free Palestine,” or other phrases pushing Swift to take a stand.
Yet, the Cruel Summer singer remains unyielding, failing to address the conflict which has prevailed for months. Before the Rafah airstrike reignited the spark, a movement to boycott Taylor Swift and other celebrities who had remained silent or neutral in the war made waves. Indeed, many celebrities succumbed to the pressure of the #blockout 2024 movement. However, Swift took the threats with a grain of salt, firing up her Eras tour one city at a time.
