The model’s management has verified that Bella Hadid, an American fashion model, and her sister Gigi, also an American fashion model and television personality, are contributing a total of $1 million (€921,000) to aid humanitarian efforts in Palestine.
A representative for Bella revealed that the funds are intended to be distributed equally among four child- and family-focused humanitarian organizations: Heal Palestine, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), World Central Kitchen (WCK), and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
In the midst of the Gaza War, the two, whose father is Palestinian real estate mogul Mohamed Anwar Hadid, have been outspoken in their support of the Palestinian people.
“My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict – too many of which are children,” Gigi, 29, wrote on Instagram following Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel.
Gigi has modelled for fashion houses such as Versace and Chanel and co-hosts Netflix’s Next In Fashion reality competition.
“I bear a daily responsibility to show profound empathy and sorrow for the plight and way of life of the Palestinian people under occupation. I have hopes and dreams for the Palestinian people, but none of them include harming a Jewish person,” she continued.
In May of 2022, Bella Hadid, 27, who has 29 worldwide Vogue covers and was crowned model of the year by the British Fashion Council, said on social that she was “devastated at the loss of the Palestinian people and the lack of empathy coming from the government systems worldwide”.
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A traditional Arabic garment linked to Palestine—on Instagram as “a beautiful way to represent the history, labor of love, resilience, and, most importantly, the art of historic Palestinian embroidery.”
She wore the dress to the Cannes Film Festival last month. In the October 7th attack, terrorists commanded by Hamas killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped about 250 more.
It set off a conflict with Israel that has claimed the lives of over 36,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians when tallying casualties.