Annie Lennox urges ceasefire amid “heartbreaking” Gaza crisis
As the carnage in Gaza rages on, Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox has spoken out again about the need for a ceasefire half a world away. This comes as recent developments in the Israel-Hamas war continue, with no announcement of any kind of end in sight.
Lennox recently talked to The Independent about her decision to speak up, saying, “It’s a complicated issue, and I know that. But, it is absolutely heartbreaking to see what’s happening in Gaza right now”. The singer was also seen wearing a pin when celebrating Elton John’s accomplishments at the Library of Congress on March 20th.
When asked about why she was advocating so strongly, Lennox cited John as a major influence in her speaking up for what she believes in. Years before Lennox had started to take on political pieces in her performances, John had been a strong advocate in his activism to combat HIV/AIDs.
Referencing her pin, Lennox said that it was to reference a movement she is involved with called Artists for Peace. The organisation is designed as a coalition of creative artists looking to come together to provide relief or a call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Lennox hoped that her wearing the pin would increase awareness in her fellow artists enacting some sort of change. She explained: “It’s got to the point now where the whole world is looking at this with such horror. [The pin] is to say, ‘peace, peace for everyone,’ just to be sensible about this”.
Of course, this is far from the first time that Lennox has used her platform to help raise awareness. When paying tribute to music icon Sinéad O’Connor in February, she also advocated for peace, shouting out that there needs to be more peace in the world following at the end of her performance.
Throughout her lifetime, O’Connor was also not afraid to speak her mind on hard-hitting issues. In one of her most famous performances, the alternative singer was both chastised and praised when performing on Saturday Night Live, where she ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II in an attempt to encourage those to speak out against the recent abuse scandals happening in the Catholic Church.
Despite Lennox’s comments, the Israel-Hamas war has still been pressing on. Ever since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7th, 2023, the war has continued to displace thousands and resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 Palestinians.