The "Together for Palestine" concert held at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on September 17, 2025, was a remarkable and multifaceted event, drawing a vast assembly of 69 artists, speakers, and activists in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Organised with the involvement of British musician Brian Eno and under the artistic direction of Malak Mattar, a Palestinian artist and Gaza exile currently based in London, the concert aimed to raise humanitarian aid funds through the UK charity Choose Love. The event featured a blend of acclaimed musicians spanning genres and generations—including Damon Albarn, Bastille, PinkPantheress, Hot Chip, and many more—alongside notable actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Florence Pugh, as well as public figures like former footballer Eric Cantona and presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg.

The scale and eclectic nature of the event echoed political and musical gatherings of past decades—Paul Weller, performing at the concert, likened its spirit to the activism-infused festivals of the 1980s like Artists Against Apartheid’s Festival for Freedom. However, in contrast to the analogue fundraising methods of those times, “Together for Palestine” harnessed the efficiency of modern technology and commerce: tickets sold out within two hours, raising around £500,000, and additional funds were supplemented by online donations and merchandise sales. The merchandise, designed by prominent fashion figures such as Bella Freud, Katherine Hamnett, Priya Ahluwalia, and Ayham Hassan, ranged from T-shirts to keffiyehs, with designers and the digital presence extending fundraising beyond the arena itself.

The concert was distinctively Palestinian-centred, with Malak Mattar curating the event to highlight Palestinian artistic identity and voices. Mattar, who fled Gaza just prior to the October 2023 conflict and later became the first Palestinian to have a solo show at Central Saint Martins, incorporated contemporary Palestinian art and music, including performances by oud player Adnan Joubran and rapper El Far3i. Her creative leadership ensured that the event avoided the pitfalls of white saviourism, fostering genuine cultural solidarity and creative resistance through art and performance. Palestinian themes of endurance and resilience were central, reflected in Mattar’s own work and the poignant selections on the night.

The concert also bore witness to the complex political tensions surrounding the Palestinian issue. Outside the arena, a small group of Israeli flag protesters attempted to challenge the crowds waving Palestinian flags, but the encounter was brief and peacefully managed by police. Inside, the atmosphere remained largely celebratory and focused on solidarity, though moments of political dissent surfaced, such as when Louis Theroux was heckled after mentioning Israeli violence and terms like “genocide,” which were notably cheered in this setting. Some performers and speakers exercised editorial caution; for example, Benedict Cumberbatch omitted a poem’s reference to the dead of Gaza “ascending to heaven with a smile,” while Richard Gere’s impromptu speech veered into a broader message of love and compassion, diverging from his scripted remarks.

Prominent Palestinian voices made a strong impact. Investigative journalist Yara Eid highlighted the high toll on journalists in Gaza, eliciting resounding applause, while pianist Faraj Suleiman performed a memorable set backed by a jazz-prog trio. The concert climaxed with a joint performance by Neneh Cherry and Greentea Peng, which received the loudest cheer of the evening. Over its four-hour duration, the concert maintained the attention of its audience, though some began to drift away towards the end during performances by Damon Albarn, Omar Souleyman, and Gorillaz. By 10 pm, host Jameela Jamil announced a fundraising total of £1.5 million, underscoring the event’s success as both a cultural and humanitarian milestone.

The concert was livestreamed exclusively on YouTube to extend its reach beyond Wembley, highlighting the digital age’s role in activism and fundraising. All proceeds from the event, including ticket sales, online donations, and merchandise, were dedicated to Palestinian-led organisations providing medical, food, and humanitarian aid amid ongoing conflict. These efforts support key local groups such as Taawon, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and the Palestine Medical Relief Service, emphasizing community-led relief and resilience amid crisis.

"Together for Palestine" thus stands as a significant artistic and humanitarian convergence, linking global musicians and celebrities with Palestinian cultural figures and activists to generate solidarity, raise substantial funds, and maintain international focus on the plight of Gaza. The event fused music, activism, and art to express both grief and hope, exemplifying the power of creativity to inspire change and sustain resistance in fraught political landscapes.

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Source: Noah Wire Services