Bella Hadid
Organized protests and general backlash, as well as support for Palestinians pouring in from across the world – including words of solidarity from Palestinian-American supermodel Bella Hadid – have followed President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
According to The Washington Post, Trump’s departure from decades of US policy on the holy city upends “longstanding international assurances that the fate of the city would be determined in negotiations. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, as their capital.” Trump also announced that the US Embassy, which is currently in Tel Aviv, will be relocated to Jerusalem.
In a post shared with her 16 million Instagram followers, 21-year-old Hadid included a photo of the Dome of The Rock in Jerusalem, along with an emotional caption that reads:
“I've been waiting to put this into perfect words but I realized there is no perfect way to speak of something so unjust. A very very sad day. Watching the news and seeing the pain of the Palestinian people makes me cry for the many many generations of Palestine. Seeing the sadness of my father, cousins, and Palestinian family that are feeling for our Palestinian ancestors makes this even harder to write. Jerusalem is home of all religions. For this to happen, I feel, makes us take 5 steps back making it harder to live in a world of peace.
The TREATMENT of the Palestinian people is unfair, one-sided and should not be tolerated. I stand with Palestine. There is no hate against anyone... There are no sides... All religions living side by side.. Now it is Just one man..it has always been a factor of trying to bring peace... Where is the hope..?”
Following her post, Hadid also joined a demonstration on Oxford Street in London against the decision, just minutes after leaving an event to launch the flagship store of luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer. According to Glamour Magazine, as she was leaving the show, her car was held behind protesters gathered outside the US Embassy near Hyde Park, so she chose to get out of the car and join the march for a few minutes.
Hadid’s father, real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, also condemned Trump's decision in an Instagram post, saying, “The Saddest day of my life as an American Palestinian.. and to all the Palestinians that have endured the Israeli occupation of our fathers and great grandfather’s Land.”
