Mural painted on the rubble of a destroyed building and dedicated to US rapper, singer, dancer and DJ, Benjamin Haggerty, known as Macklemore.
PHOTOS - Mural of Macklemore appears in ruins of Gaza City
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Artists in the ruins of Gaza City have painted a large mural of U.S. rapper Macklemore wrapped in a Palestinian flag, raising a fist, with the message “Thank you for using your voice for Palestine.”
The work, created on a massive concrete slab leaning against destroyed buildings amid rubble, was completed as a gesture of gratitude after the Grammy-winning artist was removed from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour.
Gaza-based artists Anne Redwan, 26, and Qusai al-Helo designed and painted the tribute.
“We wanted to send a message to thank rapper Macklemore in this simple way,” Redwan told Reuters.
“As an artist living under siege here in Gaza, we are waiting for support from anyone who can see (the) persecution we live under. We can paint murals bigger than this to express our feelings.”
Macklemore, known for hits like “Thrift Shop” and a longtime supporter of Palestinian causes, was dropped as an opening act on Sheeran’s Loop tour after performing at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5.
Onstage, he declared “Free Palestine,” saying he wanted the words “loud and clear so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them,” before performing his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall,” which criticizes ‘Israel’s’ military assault on Gaza.
Sheeran later said stadium owners refused to allow Macklemore to appear, forcing the change.
New England Patriots owner and Gillette Stadium proprietor Robert Kraft cited alleged antisemitism—claims the rapper has denied—and was reported to have influenced other venue owners.
Macklemore has repeatedly distinguished criticism of ‘Israeli’ policy from antisemitism, stating on stage that “criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you” directed at Jewish audience members.
In response to the ouster, Macklemore announced he would donate his entire $1 million in net earnings from the tour to six aid groups supporting Palestinians in Gaza.
He challenged Kraft to match the sum.
Kraft said Sheeran had pledged $2 million for regional aid and asked him to match it; children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel also matched Macklemore’s $1 million commitment.
The mural arrives nearly a year after a ceasefire halted major fighting, yet reconstruction has barely begun.
More than two million residents remain largely confined to a fraction of the territory, living in tents or damaged buildings.
Aid workers welcomed the celebrity attention and funds but stressed the need for sustained support.
“When artists of this stature... support reaching a political solution, support achieving peace for the people of Gaza... That means a great deal to us,” said Hussein Murtaja, who runs a local mental-health program for children.
