KARACHI: Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has reaffirmed her support for the people of Gaza after criticism over her decision to co-produce a Broadway musical with former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Dawn.com reported.

In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday night, she said she “wanted to speak today” because there should be “no confusion about my support for the people of Gaza.”

Her statement comes after news surfaced of her producing Suffs, a Broadway musical on the suffrage movement in the US alongside Clinton. The internet was awash with criticism, with many calling the activist a sellout, particularly for partnering with Clinton on the project.

Clinton, a former US first lady and secretary of state, wrote an op-ed for The Atlantic last November in which she argued against a complete ceasefire in Gaza. She has also defended Israel, labelling criticism of it by students “antisemitic”.

“We have all watched the relentless atrocities against Palestinian people for more than six months now with anger and despair. This week’s news of mass graves discovered at Gaza’s Nasser and Al Shifa hospitals is yet another reminder of the horrors Palestinians are facing. It is hard enough to watch from afar — I don’t know how Palestinians bear it in their bones,” wrote Ms Yousafzai.

“We do not need to see more dead bodies, bombed shovels and starving children to understand that a ceasefire is urgent and necessary.”

The education activist added that she had and “will continue to condemn the Israeli government for its violations of international law and war crimes”.

“Publicly and privately, I will keep calling on world leaders to push for a ceasefire and to ensure the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid.”

Ms Yousafzai said she was against “any form of violence against innocent civilians, including the taking of prisoners and hostages” and expressed solidarity with the people in Gaza “whose voices and demands must be heard”.

“When we see alarming signs of genocide, we cannot wait to take decisive action. We must work together to urge our leaders to stop these war crimes and hold perpetrators to account.”

Ms Yousafzai publicly made the statement after the news of her producing Suffs, a Broadway musical on the suffrage movement in the US, alongside the former US secretary of state.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2024