‘To the oppressors of our time you will have to answer for your deeds’: Sonny Bill Williams issues a powerful statement on bloody Israeli-Palestinian conflict as he poses with his young daughters Iman and Aisha
Sonny Bill Williams has weighed in on the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict with passionate social media post.
Williams, 35, a proud Muslim, shared his thoughts on the crisis alongside a photo of him with his daughters Iman and Aisha, who he shares with wife Alana.
‘Eid Mubarak to all my brothers & sisters around the world,’ Williams wrote on Thursday, acknowledging the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, which takes place after the month of Ramadan.
Proud dad: Sonny Bill Williams weighed in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Thursday as he posed with his daughters Iman, seven, and Aisha, four, on the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr
‘Eid Mubarak to all my brothers & sisters around the world,’ he began his caption, acknowledging the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, which takes place after the month of Ramadan
He then went on to address the conflict in Gaza where Israel has launched a military offensive as Islamic militant group Hamas fire rockets at Israeli cities.
‘To the Muslim Ummah facing oppression at masjid Al Aqsa, Palestine. China – Xinjiang. Kashmir. Syria. Iraq. Yemen. Our love and duas are with you,’ he began.
‘To the oppressors and pharaohs of our time you will have to answer for your deeds one day.’
He also used the post to shine the light on the Israeli-Gaza conflict, which saw hundreds of Palestinians bombed by Israeli militants on May 10. Pictured, the aftermath of the warzone
Clashes between fractious Palestine and Israeli forces have simmered since Friday.
Officials have described the violence as the worst in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 2019.
The escalation began with confrontations at Al-Asqa Mosque, on the compound known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary – the most sensitive site in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Since then, nightly clashes at the compound have left hundreds injured and dozens killed.
Williams shares his two daughters as well as two sons, three-year-old Zaid and one-year-old Essa, and with wife Alana Raffie, 27.
Williams tied the knot with wife Alana Raffie, 27, in 2013. The two have four children together
The couple tied the knot in secret in 2013. They most recently welcomed their fourth son Essa, in February 2020.
At the time, the boxing star announced his newborn son’s name after flying home from the UK to be with his wife as she gave birth.
The former All Blacks star revealed the couple named their fourth child Essa in heartfelt post to Instagram at the time.
Doting dad: Sonny Bill Williams announced the birth of his fourth child, a baby boy, named Essa in Instagram in February 2020
Family: The footy star is already father to daughters Iman and Aisha, and sons Zaid and Essa
‘Essa Williams. May the most high bless you to grow up to be a pious, happy, caring and strong willed man. I love you my son,’ Williams wrote alongside a picture of the newborn.
Essa, a Muslim name pronounced Ee-sah, is an Arabic translation of Jesus.
Sonny converted from Christianity to Islam in 2009 and became the first Muslim to play for the All Blacks.
Man of faith: Sonny Bill Williams converted from Christianity to Islam in 2009 and became the first Muslim to play for the All Blacks