Sabeena Farooq speaks up about LA tragedy

US citizens mourn and rush to raise funds as wildfires rage across Los Angeles, threatening life and property. Those unaffected have been outspoken about their support on social media. Another person to acknowledge the tragedy is our very own Sabeena Farooq. "For the situation in LA, my heart goes out for all the humans and animals affected," she wrote on Instagram.

However, Sabeena took this opportunity to make a poignant argument. "But somebody just said, imagine the same situation but with thousands of dead bodies around, and no food and help. That's Gaza for you!" she asserted. "Let's feel for human lives unbiased."

Sabeena's point rings true, as it calls to attention the unceasing devastation of Palestine, which the US government is a key contributor to. Recently, BBC confirmed that President Biden plans on sending arms shipments worth $8bn to refurbish Israel's weaponry.

As California grieves for those affected by the disaster, celebrities rally in support of the victims whose livelihoods have been burned to the ground. Some bereaved individuals have even suffered unimaginable losses, such as Jennifer Garner who told MSNBC that she lost a friend to the fire.

However, there are also those who have fallen to moments of insensitivity in their fervour for the tragedy. The Last Showgirl actor Jamie Lee Curtis has been passionately speaking out about the wildfires. However, she attracted criticism online after comparing the disaster to the genocide in Gaza, as per NME.

"The entire city of Pacific Palisades is gone, I mean literally my neighbourhood gone. My house tonight is still there, but I live in a different canyon. But the entire Pacific Palisades looks like, you know, unfortunately Gaza or one of these war-torn countries where awful things have happened," she said.

Users on X were quick to condemn her statement. "It's a terrible thing to be happening in California right now, but these comparisons are so careless and unnecessary," one user wrote.