Recently singer Taylor Swift and actor Selena Gomez were captured attending a stand-up comedy show, the proceeds of which were allocated to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza. Hosted by comedian Ramy Youssef in Brooklyn, New York, the event spanned various cities, including Philadelphia, Washington, and San Francisco.
In a November Instagram post, Youssef announced that all proceeds from the remaining shows of his "Ramy Youssef: more feelings" stand-up tour would be donated to the American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), supporting humanitarian relief in Gaza. Established after the 1967 War, ANERA focuses on aiding Palestinian and other refugees through investments in schools and teacher training.
This fundraising initiative gained prominence amid an extended Israeli offensive on Gaza, resulting in significant casualties and the destruction of entire neighborhoods. The conflict has claimed the lives of over 18,000 Palestinians, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian aid.
Palestinian-Dutch model Gigi Hadid praised Youssef on his Instagram post about the fundraiser, referring to him as a "legend." Fans praised Youssef for his efforts in tackling what UN authorities have described as a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Respondents on social media expressed gratitude for Youssef's representation of Arab and Muslim Americans, applauding his unwavering authenticity.
Actresses Cara Delevingne, Anya Taylor Joy, and Zoe Kravitz were reported to have attended the event. While Swift refrained from commenting on the Gaza war, Gomez, taking to social media, expressed her distress over global violence, emphasizing the need to protect all people, especially children.
According to an update from the Hamas-run health ministry, 18,412 individuals have died in Gaza since the start of the conflict, most of whom were women and children. Israel was said to have bombarded Gaza in reprisal for a Hamas attack on October 7 that claimed about 240 hostages and 1,200 Israeli deaths, according to Israeli authorities.
