Gaza humanitarian crisis: fundraising electronic music events to attend this month
Updated 11th December
Promoters and artists are continuing to show solidarity with the population of Gaza through fund and awareness-raising events.
Citizens in the Palestinian region have been living in a state of “complete siege” since 9th October, when Israeli forces began an offensive with deadly air attacks – on buildings including hospitals, schools, refugee camps, mosques and churches – and launched a subsequent ground invasion. This was in response to a string of attacks carried out by the militant group Hamas on the 7th October in which over 1,000 people were killed, including 260 attendees of the psytrance festival Supernova. Hostages were also taken, a number of whom were released during a temporary truce, which began on 23rd November.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 17,000 Palestinians have now been killed in ground and air assaults in the region, including thousands of children. Charities warn that 2.3 million people could be displaced amid a rapidly mounting humanitarian crisis. Citizens in Gaza have endured desperate conditions, with a near-total blockade restricting deliveries of fuel, food and medicines. Lack of power has led to blackouts, a shutdown of communication with the outside world, and fears for patients in hospitals.
More than 800 scholars and practitioners of international law, conflict studies and genocide studies signed an open letter on 15th October warning of “the possibility of the crime of genocide being perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”.
Numerous groups and individuals from the international electronic and wider music community have been vocal about the situation, with hundreds signing a letter in solidarity with Palestine as part of the Ravers For Palestine movement. Shannen SP, Tash LC, Ross From Friends and Objekt were among the signatories. In November, the #MusicForCeasefire open letter was published, with more than 1,000 artists calling for an end to hostilities.
Numerous musicians and record labels have also been releasing music via Bandcamp in an effort to raise funds for charities working to support innocent civilians impacted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Find a selection of those here.
Events have taken place across many regions of the globe in a bid to highlight the plight of those impacted. Below you will find a round up of more planned to take place this month.
