Ms. Rachel Criticizes Celebrities for Silence on Gaza Advocacy

<p>Children's YouTube star Ms. Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, reiterated her advocacy for Gaza on Thursday, criticizing celebrities who have remained silent about the situation of Palestinian children. She questioned why those with secure careers would not take a stand to help save lives.</p><p>Accurso made her remarks during an appearance on comedian Ilana Glazer's podcast, where she challenged major celebrities for not publicly addressing the war. "If you are so famous, and you’re uncancellable, and you won’t even say like, ‘Kids in Gaza should have schools, people in Gaza should have hospitals,’ why can't you risk something to help save lives?" she stated.</p><p>Her comments followed criticism from Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, who told Fox News Digital that the focus Accurso places on Palestinian children compared to children suffering elsewhere is disproportionate. He remarked, "When 0.09% of starving children receive 90% of her attention, something is wrong."</p><p>Elizabeth Barcohana, the California Republican Party’s Jewish engagement chair, also criticized Accurso, suggesting that she was "sanitizing terrorism with false and misleading information to emotionally manipulate her very impressionable following."</p><p>During the podcast, Accurso expanded her criticism to other humanitarian issues, expressing frustration with prominent figures who do not publicly address them. She said, "I am really upset that people aren't speaking out about kids in detention and aren't speaking out about Gaza and Sudan and everything."</p><p>The discussion began when Glazer mentioned rapper Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour after his onstage remarks supporting Palestine. Accurso dismissed Sheeran's involvement and broadened her criticism of the situation.</p><p>Tour promoter Messina Touring Group stated that multiple venues refused to allow Macklemore to perform, while Sheeran later clarified that the decision was made by the promoter. At a Philadelphia concert, Sheeran condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic and unjustifiable.</p><p>Macklemore later pledged $1 million in tour proceeds to Palestinian aid organizations, a donation that Accurso said she would match, urging other wealthy celebrities to do the same.</p><p>Accurso characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as "genocide" during the podcast, stating that she believed using the term could pressure the international community to act. A U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded in June that Israeli authorities deliberately targeted Palestinian children, labeling their conduct as genocide and other international crimes. Israel rejected these conclusions, challenging the commission's findings.</p><p>A separate genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel is currently before the International Court of Justice, which has issued provisional measures but has not yet made a final judgment on the allegations.</p>