Altered Dua Lipa statement on Israel's genocide on Palestine spreads online

Singer has regularly voiced support for Palestinian human rights and has come under fire for doing so

LOS ANGELES:

Pop star Dua Lipa has joined calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel’s atrocities in Palestine, but an edited version of a statement she made about the conflict is circulating online. The misleading social media posts omit comments from the singer expressing solidarity with victims in Israel, as well as Gaza.

"Dua Lipa stands with Palestine! 'With each passing day, my heart aches for the people of Palestine. Grief as I witness the unprecedented suffering in Gaza, where 2.2 million souls, half of them children, endure unimaginable hardships,'" says a December 12, 2023 X post.

It was shared by Jackson Hinkle, a conservative influencer who has repeatedly spread misinformation about the Israel-Hamas war. Hinkle also posted the claim on Facebook. The claim spread as Israel warned its war with Hamas will last "many more months."

The conflict erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel. Israel's response - a relentless bombardment and siege of Gaza - has killed at least 21,110 people, according to the latest toll issue by Gaza's health ministry, about two-thirds of them women and children.

Lipa has regularly voiced support for Palestinian human rights and has come under fire for doing so. In October 2023, Lipa joined other celebrities in signing a letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to call for a ceasefire in the war. But the quote spread by Hinkle misrepresents an Instagram story from Lipa, a member of her press team said, providing AFP with a screenshot of the singer's post.

Her message, encouraging people to donate to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, said, "With each passing day, my heart aches for the people of Israel and Palestine. Grief for the lives lost in the horrifying attacks in Israel. Grief as I witness the unprecedented suffering in Gaza, where 2.2 million souls, half of them children, endure unimaginable hardships."

The Instagram story is no longer available on Lipa's official account, but the screenshot matches what was reported in news articles from October and identical images of the post were captured by fan accounts.

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