Eight time grammy winning reggae artist Ziggy Marley is using his platform on social media in support of peace but leaning towards support of Israel’s offensive as the country declared war on Hamas and Palestinians.
Israel’s offensive has been widely criticized by several celebrities and music industry execs and the UN has called for a ceasefire after Israel announced they have cut off all utilities and access to food on the Gaza Strip- in a move that has so far left more than 5000 people dead including women and children.
Ziggy Marley , who is know for songs like ‘Dem Fake Leaders’ artist who is a professed Rasta Man posted a 271 word text on on Instagram today as a caption questioning who are the beneficiaries on war.
“If you have time think, i ask who really profit from never ending wars and conflicts 🤨 The wickeds , the devils. For its business model to work it needs to continually incentivize, foment and educate hatred and fear between tribes and peoples. You can pick a reason for there are many to SELF justify any action. Thats the genius of it’s game . Give human beings a reason to commit the worst acts on eachother and human beings will. They say it’s in our nature and we cannot evolve past it or resist its wicked pull,” he stated.
Today’s middle of the road post is the latest in a series of posts including one that called for ‘Gaza to be free from Hamas’ after the militarized group invaded Israeli territory two weeks ago.
The Instagram account of Tuff Gong Worldwide, a US company owned by Ziggy Marley and his Israeli-born music exec wife Orly also posted an image on October 9th with the comments off but declaring their support of the Benjamin Netanyahu lead nation as well as “Jews from around the world.”
“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*rr*r**t organization that is attacking civilians by land, air, and sea. The images of kidnapped Israelis are shocking and devastating,” part of the statement said.
While being less graphic from his account, the Tomorrow People artist identified ‘devilish power players’ who benefit greatly from the war as stated the it the regular people who are often unwilling to fight who get caught up in the battlefield.
“For some of them money is the payoff for others it’s power for the devil👹 it’s human blood and it doesn’t matter who’s or from which side it doesn’t matter whatsoever . Human beings are the victims of it’s sinister game some willing some unwilling and most caught in the middle,”he stated.
On Monday Hamas released two more hostages among the dozens it had captured during the earlier assault on Israel this month. Diplomatic efforts continue to mitigate the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The two Israeli women have been identified as Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. They were taken by Hamas militants during the incursion into southern Israel on October 7, marking the deadliest attack on Israeli territory.
Both women’s husbands, who were also kidnapped at the same time, remain in captivity in Gaza, according to the Israel’s Prime Minister’s office.
Chris Hanger, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, reported that the organization facilitated the transfer of the two hostages out of Gaza on Monday evening and stands ready to assist with any future releases.
Cooper, aged 79, and Lifshitz, aged 85, are en route to a medical center in Israel, where they will be reunited with their family members. The Israeli government expressed gratitude to Egypt and the Red Cross for their roles in the successful rescue.
This recent release follows the liberation of two other female hostages on Friday, bringing the total number of captives freed by Hamas to four. Negotiations are also underway for the release of around 50 more hostages in Gaza, as stated by a source in the United States familiar with the talks.
Israel’s military reported on Monday that at least 222 people are still being held hostage in Gaza. Hamas previously claimed that its militants had approximately 200 captives, with the possibility of an additional 50 held by other factions within the coastal enclave.
This development in hostage releases occurs amidst strenuous diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from escalating into a larger war. There are concerns that other groups, like the Iran-backed Hizbollah, could become involved, given its dominance in southern Lebanon.
During the surprise attack by Hamas earlier this month, the militants caused over 1,400 casualties and injured more than 5,400 people, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has resulted in 5,087 casualties and 15,273 injuries, as reported by Palestinian officials. The humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict.
The fate of the hostages in Gaza is one of the factors holding back Israel’s anticipated ground invasion of the impoverished region, which, despite repeated suggestions of its imminence, has not been launched even after 17 days since Hamas’s initial attack on Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has affirmed Israel’s commitment to “return all the abducted and missing persons” following the first prisoner release on Friday.
