Together for Palestine fundraiser edges toward £2m target as London concert raises over £1.6m

A charity concert in London raised more than £1.6 million toward a near-£2 million target, as Together for Palestine consolidated its status as the biggest fundraiser of its kind in the United Kingdom. The Wembley Arena event brought together dozens of singers, actors, doctors and journalists to share performances, speeches and video messages from Gaza. Organizers said the proceeds would be donated to organizations working to assist Palestinian people, and the total had climbed from about £1.4 million since the show concluded. The organizers noted roughly 12,000 people attended in person and more than 200,000 viewers watched the streamed event.

Celebrities including Florence Pugh, Benedict Cumberbatch and Louis Theroux addressed the crowd, while Cat Burns and Bambie Thug performed. A montage of video messages included contributions from actors such as Cillian Murphy and Billie Eilish. BBC Newsbeat reported on the event, speaking with attendees about why they felt compelled to participate. Bilal Ali Hasna, whose father is Palestinian, described his presence as a stand against Israeli conduct in Gaza.

The concert took place amid a conflict that began with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023. The Israeli military launched a broad campaign against Gaza in response, with Israel saying it is pursuing Hamas and aims to secure the release of captives. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has reported devastating casualties since the fighting began: tens of thousands killed, with the ministry also noting hundreds of deaths attributed to malnutrition and related conditions. Israel has characterized its actions as self-defense. A United Nations commission of inquiry this week found evidence suggesting genocide in Gaza, a finding rejected by Israel’s foreign ministry as distorted and false.

Bilal Ali Hasna told Newsbeat that there is a perceivable shift in how openly public figures speak about the Palestinian cause, even as he acknowledged safety concerns within the cultural sector about saying the wrong thing or risking backlash. He said, however, that public figures should speak out when people are dying and humanitarian needs are urgent. Onstage moments included Florence Pugh wearing a watermelon-patterned sweater, a symbol that has gained traction among supporters of Palestine. In the crowd, some attendees observed that public engagement around Palestine may be reaching a turning point, suggesting the moment could steer wider opinion.

Charithra Chandran of Bridgerton said the event might not have happened a year ago and reiterated that public tolerance for inaction was shifting. Jameela Jamil echoed that sentiment, describing the concert as an indicator of a changing public mood and a potential willingness to confront ongoing injustice. The program highlighted ongoing debates about celebrity involvement in politics, and several participants noted the delicate balance between raising awareness and protecting personal and professional risks.

Beyond the artistic performances, the event touched on broader cultural dynamics around Gaza and Israel. The debate has included calls for boycotts of Israeli production companies and events, with some high-profile figures facing professional consequences for their views on the conflict. As the Eurovision Song Contest nears, discussions have intensified about Israel’s participation, with several countries signaling they would refrain from taking part if Israel is represented next year. Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Iceland and, most recently, Spain have publicly stated they would not participate under those conditions. The remarks came as activists highlighted the risks faced by artists who speak up, including death threats and public backlash faced by some past Eurovision entrants.

Bambie Thug, who performed at the event and previously represented Ireland in Eurovision, said she believes the UK should follow the example of other countries in standing up for Palestinian rights. She added that she was proud of her country for taking a stand and that the artistic community should reflect broader values in the public sphere. Cat Burns, who also performed, acknowledged that speaking out is a personal choice but said such events can raise awareness and spur people to research and support humanitarian efforts. Burns cautioned that while public figures have a platform, they must weigh the impact of their statements on their careers and their audiences.

The Together for Palestine organizers reiterated that the proceeds from the Wembley performance would be donated to groups providing aid to Palestinian communities. They described the event as the biggest fundraiser of its kind in the UK and emphasized its potential to mobilize additional support and drive conversation about the humanitarian needs in Gaza. The show’s reach — combining a live crowd with a large online audience — underscored the growing demand among audiences for public engagement on the issue, even as the political and security landscape remains highly sensitive.

Questions about the boundaries of celebrity involvement in political issues persisted in public commentary, but organizers stressed that the event aimed to inform and mobilize aid rather than to prescribe a political solution. The fundraiser’s emphasis on humanitarian relief was intended to complement other advocacy efforts and to amplify the voices of Palestinians and those working on the ground.