Pro-Palestinian slogans rang out at the OVO Arena Wembley on Wednesday night as 12,500 people filled the sold-out venue for Britain's biggest fundraising concert for Gaza.
The live-streamed event, Together for Palestine (T4P) - the latest in a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and cultural events across the British capital — saw tickets priced at £70 ($95), raising at least $2 million by the end of the evening, according to organisers.
London has seen repeated marches since the conflict began nearly two years ago. Yet the Wembley fundraiser marked a new scale of mobilisation — blending celebrity activism, artistic expression, and political messaging into one spectacle.
British musician and activist Brian Eno spearheaded the concert, urging high-profile figures to lend their voices. He told AFP that only a year ago, "no venue would accept an event with the word 'Palestine' in it." But the landscape has shifted, he argued: "Israel thought starving a whole population would be fine with everyone... I think that changed people's minds."
The UN last month officially declared famine in Gaza, citing the "systematic obstruction" of aid. And just a day before the concert, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry declared that "genocide is occurring in Gaza," accusing Israel of responsibility.
The T4P line-up reflected a blend of international stars, Palestinian voices and veteran activists. Actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Florence Pugh joined documentary-maker Louis Theroux, who previously filmed in the West Bank, alongside Nicola Coughlan, Richard Gere, journalist Mehdi Hasan, and football icon Eric Cantona. Palestinian singer Saint Levant also performed.
Music carried the night, with sets from Paul Weller, Portishead, Damon Albarn with Gorillaz, the London Arab Orchestra and the Juzour Dance Collective. Palestinian artwork curated by Gazan artist Malak Mattar transformed the stage, underscoring the theme of cultural resistance.
From the microphone, the messaging was unambiguous. Pugh declared: "Silence in the face of such suffering is not neutrality. It is complicity." Coughlan added pointedly: "There are many artists with hundreds of millions of followers saying nothing in this moment."
Political edge
The event carried a sharp political undertone. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, described Gaza as a "defining moment." Speaking to the crowd, she said: "Palestine will be free and we will all be free."
Earlier, in an interview with AFP, Albanese argued that "anyone who holds a position of power, including to narrate, has the responsibility to take part in this, to make people understand that they shouldn't feel fear to speak."
That message resonated with the Wembley audience, many of whom waved Palestinian flags and chanted for an end to the war. Calls for sanctions on Israel rang out, alongside tributes to Palestinian healthcare workers and journalists who have continued working under bombardment.
Beyond political statements, the concert had a concrete aim: humanitarian relief. All proceeds, both from tickets and online donations, are being channelled through British charity Choose Love, with funds earmarked for Palestinian-led organisations such as Taawon and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.Mattar, the Palestinian artist, said the event was not simply about symbolism. "We want to empower people to take action," she explained. "We owe the people of Palestine our solidarity." The fundraiser also highlighted how Gaza has become a focal point for global celebrity activism.
For Eno, who has long campaigned on political issues, the sight of 12,500 people chanting for Palestine marked a watershed. What was once considered marginal or controversial has entered the mainstream of British cultural life.
The concert reflected the convergence of art, politics, and humanitarian urgency. For many in the arena, it was as much a protest as a performance. And the prevailing narrative was one of solidarity with Palestinians under siege.
Eno framed the evening as proof of a shifting tide: "Things have changed," he said, pointing to the sheer visibility of the event. Albanese echoed that sentiment, insisting that "the genocide in Gaza is a defining moment" for international conscience.
As the crowd filed out into the London night, waving flags and chanting, the fusion of celebrity star power, cultural expression, and political protest had raised millions - and amplified a message organisers say can no longer be ignored.
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