‘Proud Muslim’ Bella Hadid has branded President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as ‘absurd, unfair and one-sided’.
The supermodel, 21, took to her Instagram page to condemn the ‘unjust’ announcement, writing that seeing the news made her ‘cry for the many many generations of Palestine’ and her own family.
Bella has deep ties with the nation; her father, real estate mogul Mohamed Hadid, 69, was born in Nazareth and lived in both Syria and Lebanon before immigrating to the US aged just 14.
‘Unjust’: ‘Proud Muslim’ Bella Hadid has branded President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as ‘absurd, unfair and one-sided’ (pictured in Dubai this week)
Taking to her social media on Thursday morning, the Victoria’s Secret Angel warned the move ‘takes us five steps back, making it harder to live in a world of peace’.
She wrote: ‘I’ve been waiting to put this into perfect words but I realized there is no perfect way to speak of something so unjust.
‘A very very sad day. Watching the news and seeing the pain of the Palestinian people makes me cry for the many many generations of Palestine.
‘Seeing the sadness of my father, cousins, and Palestinian family that are feeling for our Palestinian ancestors makes this even harder to write.
‘Jerusalem is home of all religions. For this to happen, I feel, makes us take 5 steps back making it harder to live in a world of peace. The TREATMENT of the Palestinian people is unfair, one-sided and should not be tolerated. I stand with Palestine.’
Bella went on to quote her friend and ‘Palestinian sisters’, DJ duo Simi Haze: ‘It is absurd that Palestine, a country where Muslims Christians and Jews lived side by side for centuries, has been fighting to be recognized since the inception of Israel in 1948, and to add insult to injury yesterday Trump ‘decided’ to recognize Palestine’s capital of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel – as if it’s his to give away.
‘A very sad day’: The supermodel, 21, took to her Instagram page to blast the announcement, writing that seeing the news made her ‘cry for the many many generations of Palestine’
Close ties: Bella’s real estate mogul Mohamed Hadid, 69, was born in Nazareth and lived in both Syria and Lebanon before immigrating to the US aged just 14 (pictured in Cannes in May)
‘This is a violation of international law and a huge setback to any hope for peace. In his speech yesterday, he never once mentioned Palestine but referred to Israel and “the Palestinian people” as if Palestine never existed.
‘Jerusalem is and always has been the capital of occupied Palestine. Declaring Jerusalem as Israels capital is a calculated move to make Palestinians lose hope of ever gaining statehood in their own country.’
Bella’s father, Mohamed Hadid – a Los Angeles-based real estate mogul worth an estimated $200 million – declared it to be the ‘saddest day of my life’.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘The Saddest day of my life as an American Palestinian.. and to all the Palestinians that have endured the Israeli occupation of our fathers and great grandfathers Land.
‘Now Mr president Trump with a simple signature gave with no return Our beloved holy land Jerusalem to the Israelis as their capital … this is not a real estate deal .. what’s worse that all the Arab leaders sold us out .. no shame no heart no soul.
Speaking out: Taking to her social media on Thursday morning, the Victoria’s Secret Angel warned the move ‘takes us five steps back, making it harder to live in a world of peace’
Back to work: Bella was pictured arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday as she spoke out about the political decision
‘Disgusting of their behavior. Palestine land for the Palestinian.’ (sic)
Hadid also posted a photograph of a letter addressed to President Trump penned by the Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches In Jerusalem, pleading with him for the United States to reconsider their position.
Bella has previously described herself as a ‘proud Muslim’ as she opened up about her Islamic faith and her father’s experience as a refugee in an interview with Porter magazine in April.
She said: ‘He was always religious, and he always prayed with us. I am proud to be a Muslim.’
The Los Angeles-born supermodel and her sister Gigi, 22, also joined the No Ban No Wall march in New York after President Trump announced his immigration ban in January.
‘Proud’: Bella has previously described herself as a ‘proud Muslim’ when she opened up about her Islamic faith and her father’s experience as a refugee in an interview
‘No shame, no heart’: Bella’s father, Mohamed Hadid – a Los Angeles-based real estate mogul worth an estimated $200 million – declared it to be the ‘saddest day of my life’
‘May God bless us all’: Hadid also posted a photograph of a letter addressed to President Trump penned by the Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches In Jerusalem
Bella said of the decision: ‘My dad was a refugee when he first came to America, so it’s actually very close to home for my sister and brother and me.’
The catwalk queen is among the world’s top ten highest-earning supermodels, landing in ninth place on the Forbes 2017 list after netting $6 million in the past 12 months alone.
President Trump received widespread condemnation for his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Calling it an act of political courage, he said: ‘Many presidents have said they want to do something, and they didn’t do it.
‘Whether it’s through courage or they change their mind I can’t tell you. But a lot of people have said we have to do something, and they didn’t do it.’
Politically-minded: Bella (R) and her sister Gigi, 22, (C) also joined the No Ban No Wall march in New York after President Trump announced his immigration ban in January
Controversial: President Trump received widespread condemnation for his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
A senior administration official said on Tuesday that the president would also launch a long process of moving America’s embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
While Israel welcomed the news, Palestinian officials declared the Mideast peace process ‘finished’ and Turkey announced it would host a meeting of Islamic nations next week to give Muslim countries’ leaders an opportunity to coordinate a response.
In Gaza, U.S. and Israeli flags were burned and in the West Bank Hamas declared Friday a ‘day of rage,’ raising the specter of mass violence in the occupied territories.
The Pope made a plea for Trump to rethink urgently and spoke out at his weekly general audience in Rome.
In the UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she would challenge the country’s closest ally.
The U.S. State Department issued a global alert warning Americans traveling overseas that they could be in danger.
Success story: The catwalk queen is among the world’s top ten highest-earning supermodels, landing in ninth places on the Forbes 2017 list after netting $6 million in the past 12 months