A prominent pro-Israel group has called for a US Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into children's entertainer Ms Rachel, claiming her social media posts on the suffering of children in Gaza may constitute foreign agent work.
StopAntisemitism, known for identifying individuals it considers antisemitic, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday, urging the DOJ to determine whether Ms Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, is being paid to spread Hamas-aligned propaganda.
The group objects to Ms Rachel’s posts on social media, where she shared images of malnourished children in Gaza and casualty figures from Gaza’s health ministry, which align with reports from the United Nations.
They allege she ignored the suffering of Israeli victims and Jewish children.
Ms Rachel, who has gained fame for her YouTube channel "Songs for Littles," which has amassed more than 10bn views, did not respond to requests for comment but has previously explained her advocacy for Palestinian children after witnessing the trauma of a child in Gaza.
The Palestinian Education Ministry reported over 17,000 child fatalities in Gaza since October 2023, marking Palestinian Children’s Day (April 5).
Since the onset of Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, Palestinian children have been subjected to catastrophic conditions, with government reports indicating that women and children now account for more than 60% of the casualties, now over 50,000.
Children under the age of 18 represent 43% of Palestine's population, 3.4 million in the West Bank and 2.1 million in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
Gaza's Health Ministry recently reported 52 child deaths from malnutrition, warning of more fatalities without urgent aid. Deputy Health Minister Yusuf Ebu er-Riş states critical shortages: 59% of essential drugs and 37% of medical supplies depleted.
Over 13,000 patients requiring external treatment face worsening conditions due to closed borders. The blockade has severely disrupted food supplies, increasing malnutrition and anemia risks, particularly among children.
Since October 2023, Israeli airstrikes have killed 274 newborns, compounding the humanitarian toll.
StopAntisemitism's request for an investigation follows allegations that Ms Rachel’s posts could be linked to foreign entities under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
However, experts note that such accusations may not be legally substantiated as Hamas is designated as a terrorist organisation in the US, and Ms Rachel’s posts appear to focus on humanitarian concerns.
Ms Rachel’s prior charitable actions, including raising funds for Save the Children’s emergency fund for children in conflict zones, have garnered both support and backlash.
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