The New York Times ran a full-page ad on Sunday, May 23, condemning models Gigi and Bella Hadid and British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa for their Pro-Palestine stance, reports Anadolu Agency.
The trio was labeled as 'anti-Semitic' for condemning Israel’s brutal crackdown on the Palestinians.
The advert which was placed in the main section of the paper was paid by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, the head of the World Values Network.
The three celebrities were referred to as "mega-influencers" who have "vilified the Jewish state" and "accused Israel of ethnic cleansing."
How did this ad even get approved by @nytimes advertising? It clearly doesn’t meet their own ad acceptability principles which includes keeping out “Ads that advance baseless claims and/or conspiracies”. What do @GiGiHadid @bellahadid @DUALIPA have to do with Hamas? Nothing. https://t.co/11ATdD5usK
— Sahar Habib Ghazi (@SaharHGhazi) May 22, 2021
In its official website, the World Values Network accuses Lipa and the Hadids of being part of an "unholy trinity of anti-Semitic bile to demonize the Jewish people, whom they insist have no right to defend themselves."
The Hadid sisters have often in the past showed support for the cause of the Palestinians as their father is a Palestinian himself. Lipa, who is currently dating the Hadid sisters’ youngest brother, Anwar Hadid, has recently called for the preservation of the Sheikh Jarrah Palestinian neighborhood in Jerusalem.
Sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid were linked with Hamas in a New York Times ad| Collected
Lipa responded to the ad on Twitter, "The World Values Network are shamelessly using my name to advance their ugly campaign with falsehoods… I stand in solidarity with all oppressed people and reject all forms of racism."
— DUA LIPA (@DUALIPA) May 22, 2021
Singers Roger Waters, Zayn, The Weeknd, and Avengers star Mark Ruffalo have also been vocal about their support for Palestine.
On April 21, Friday, Israel agreed to an Egyptian brokered cease-fire, drawing a close to the eleven-day conflict.
