politics

Stars such as Katy Perry, Madonna and more are speaking out following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, leveraged by the militant group Hamas.

So far, the violence has resulted in the deaths of more than 700 Israelis (260 of which were killed at a local music festival) and has led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order a “complete siege” of Gaza in retaliation, cutting off water, food, electricity and food to the territory from which the invasion was launched. Amid the deadly conflict, musicians including Katy Perry have made statements on social media to share their support and speak out on behalf of victims in both countries.

One day after the attack, the “Teenage Dream” singer shared a post from UNICEF to her Instagram account, featuring a statement from the organization’s executive director calling for peace in the name of children in both Israel and Palestine. “More than anything, the children of Israel and the State of Palestine need a lasting political solution to the crisis, so that they can grow up in peace and free from the shadow of violence,” it read.

Madonna, meanwhile, was one of the first major stars to speak out about the attacks, voicing support for Israel on her Instagram page. “Conflicts can never be resolved with violence,” the singer wrote. “Unfortunately Humanity does not understand this Universal truth. Has Never Understood it. We live in a World Ravaged by Hate. My heart goes out to Israel. To Families and Homes that have been destroyed. To children who are lost.”

Don McLean also shared his thoughts on the attack in a statement to Billboard. “It is hard for me to control the emotions I feel for Israel at this time,” the “American Pie” singer said. “Having lived in Israel, I remember the neighborhoods I now see being bombed. I knew the people who faced this kind of hatred every day and went to a party every night because life is something to celebrate and it is so precious. Being there changed me forever. I have lived in a different way ever since. I was proud to write the song ‘Jerusalem,’ for the Mayor of Jerusalem and I sing this song every night during shows. On this earth, Jerusalem is at the center of the atom of life and salvation no matter what might be going on anywhere else on the planet.”

Singer-actress Mandy Moore reshared comedian Alex Edelman’s post in her Stories, which read in part, “The murder of innocents is never acceptable. The desecration of corpses is never acceptable. The taking of children as hostages is never acceptable.”

Frozen star Josh Gad, who charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with “We Wish You the Merriest” alongside Idina Mendel, shared his heartbreak on Threads. “I have no words. I am praying for my many family members in Israel. What a cowardly act,” he wrote. “What we are witnessing in real time right now is unprecedented since the Yom Kippur war. My heart breaks for the families of those who have lost loved ones, and for the hostages who have been taken. What a horrific day.”

These stars are just some to react to the deadly attack, with U2, Diddy, Frozen‘s Josh Gad and more all posting statements of their own. Plus, Bruno Mars canceled his concert in Tel Aviv in light of the conflict.

Keep reading to see how musicians are reacting to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East below. (Trigger warning: Some posts may include images of war and violence.)