Reggae Record labels and executives have come out support of Israel, as the offensive attack on Hamas-controlled territories along the Gaza Strip in the Middle East continues.
Tuff Gong Worldwide, owned by Ziggy Marley and his Isreali-born wife Orly posted an image on Instagram declaring their support of the Benjamin Netanyahu lead nation’s offensive and their opposition to Hamas attacks on Israel.
“It is absolutely reasonable and logical to be opposed to Isreali government treatment of Palestinians WHILE SIMULTEANOUSLY calling for protection of Jews in Israel and around the world. Hamas is a t******t organization that is attacking civilians by land, air, and sea. The images of k*******d Israelis are shocking and devastating,” part of the statement said.
On Sunday Israel implemented a “full-scale blockade” on the Gaza Strip, summoned an unprecedented 300,000 reservists, and launched relentless airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled territory. This comes as Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has issued threats against numerous hostages.
On Monday, the Israeli military shifted to an offensive stance after regaining control of areas infiltrated by Hamas during a weekend attack, marking the deadliest assault within Israel since 1948. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the campaign was just beginning and vowed a challenging and grim experience for Hamas, with the aim to “alter the Middle East.”
In response, Hamas announced on Monday evening its intent to execute a hostage for each new airstrike targeting Palestinian civilians without prior warning. The group has abducted more than 100 individuals, including women, children, Israeli soldiers, and foreign nationals.
Ineffable Records President Adam Gross posted and image with the words, “If your response to Hamas, a te******t organization, brutally k******ing, holding hostage and m*****ing innocent children is to think it is justified, please think a little more about what you just thought.”
While CEO of Ineffable Music Group Thomas Cussins reposted a video of U2’s tribute to the the kids who were reported to have lost their lives while at a music festival in Sunday.
He also reposted a photo in Instagram stories with the similar sentiments, “Imagine being at Coachella, and suddenly men with guns drop out of the sky and s******ter hundreds of innocent people on sight. Now imagine people trying to justify and say its anything other than terrorism.”
The death toll has surpassed 1,500 people since Saturday according to the Financial Times, including over 900 Israeli civilians and troops, as well as 687 individuals in Gaza. Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, lamented that never since the Holocaust had so many Jews been killed in a single day.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, including cutting off essential supplies such as electricity, food, and fuel to the densely populated region, home to 2.3 million people. The Israeli government also stopped the flow of water to Gaza.
As the possibility of Israel’s first ground offensive in Gaza in nearly a decade looms, the Israel Defense Forces called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists, the largest mobilization in the country’s history. The military released videos of Gaza’s collapsing buildings after numerous airstrikes on what they described as “terrorist targets.”
In addition to the Gaza conflict, there were reports of violence on the Lebanese-Israeli border, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict. International leaders expressed support for Israel and condemned Hamas’s actions.
Qatar attempted to mediate talks between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of hostages, but progress remained uncertain.
The United States increased its support for Israel by sending air defense and munitions. The EU suspended its development funding for the Palestinian territories in response to Hamas’s attack.
Humanitarian organizations warned of a dire future for Gaza, with millions of people facing a humanitarian emergency due to the “total blockade.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for humanitarian access to Gaza and expressed concern about Israeli missiles striking health facilities.
As a result of the conflict, Chevron halted production at its Tamar gasfield in the Mediterranean, and the price of Brent crude oil rose. Several international airlines suspended flights to Israel due to the ongoing hostilities.
