On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, London’s iconic Wembley Arena became the epicenter of a powerful outpouring of solidarity and activism as celebrities, musicians, and activists gathered for the “Together for Palestine” benefit concert. The event, which drew a diverse crowd and global attention, was organized to raise funds for Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. By the end of the night, more than £1.5 million (approximately $2 million) had been raised for Palestinian-led organizations, according to The Algemeiner and The Independent.
The concert was not just a musical spectacle but a rallying cry for humanitarian action. In the hours leading up to the event, a video was released featuring an impressive roster of celebrities calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urging governments to “stop the killing.” Among those lending their voices were Grammy-winning artists Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, Oscar winners Cillian Murphy, Joaquin Phoenix, Javier Bardem, and Penelope Cruz, activist Malala Yousafzai, and actors Caitriona Balfe and Brian Cox. Their message was clear: the world must act now. As Steve Coogan put it, “It’s important to speak out now, not when this is over, right now, while it’s happening, pressurize your government. Lend your support to those who are peacefully campaigning for Palestine. Call for a ceasefire, stop the killing.”
Inside Wembley Arena, the atmosphere was charged with emotion and urgency. The event began at 6:30 pm, and while there were empty seats at first, the venue filled up as the night progressed. The audience, a vibrant mix of generations and backgrounds, many wearing keffiyehs and T-shirts emblazoned with pro-Palestinian slogans, responded enthusiastically to both the performances and the messages from the stage.
The musical lineup was as diverse as it was moving. Bastille, James Blake, Jamie xx, and PinkPantheress delivered stirring sets, while Palestinian artists Sama’ Abdulhadi, Saint Levant, and Paloma Faith (who wore a dress made from a Palestinian keffiyeh) offered performances that resonated deeply with the cause. Annie Lennox contributed a pre-recorded performance of her new song “Why? – For Gaza,” donning a T-shirt with the slogan “Let Gaza Live.” Palestinian composer Faraj Suleiman and musician Nai Barghouti added further emotional depth, with Barghouti’s Lebanese pop medley and Suleiman’s jazz and classical piano drawing particular praise.
Projected Palestinian artwork provided a poignant backdrop, while poetry readings by Benedict Cumberbatch and Ruth Negga brought the words and experiences of Palestinians into the spotlight. Brian Eno, the event’s organizer, read Khaled Juma’s poem “Oh Rascal Children of Gaza,” underscoring the night’s focus on both art and activism.
But it was the speeches that truly galvanized the audience. Louis Theroux described the situation in Gaza as “a slow, grinding, relentless violence.” Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, did not mince words: “They silence dissent by labelling it antisemitism, and they criminalise us [as] terrorists – those who stand against genocide.” She criticized governments for turning a blind eye or being complicit by trading weapons and hosting Israeli officials. Florence Pugh, who, along with Nicola Coughlan, criticized Hollywood’s silence on Gaza, declared, “Silence in the face of such suffering is not neutrality. It is complicity. And empathy should not be this hard and it should have never been this hard.”
Richard Gere, recalling his introduction of Dire Straits at the 1988 Nelson Mandela tribute concert, noted the generational diversity in the crowd and the enduring power of music to unite people for a cause. Mehdi Hasan, the US-based British broadcaster, took aim at Western media, stating, “It infuriates me when [Western journalists] say Israel needs to allow journalists into Gaza. Yes, Israel does – but Western media must stop acting as if there aren’t any journalists in Gaza.” He highlighted the staggering toll on journalists in Gaza, referencing a report from the Watson School of International and Public Affairs that more journalists have been killed there since October 7, 2023, than in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq War, and both World Wars combined. “They were killed as part of Israel’s deliberate campaign to blind the world, to erase all evidence of their crimes,” Hasan asserted, drawing the evening’s biggest roar from the crowd.
Yara Eid, a Palestinian journalist, spoke passionately about resisting attempts to silence her, saying, “Israel will never silence me… even if they kill me.” Medical professionals who had treated wounded Gazans were also honored, emphasizing the human cost of the conflict and the resilience of those providing aid on the ground.
One of the night’s most controversial moments came when French former soccer player Eric Cantona called for Israeli athletes to be banned from all soccer competitions, including FIFA and UEFA matches. “The time has come to suspend Israel from that privilege,” he said, receiving loud applause. “FIFA and UEFA must suspend Israel. [Soccer] clubs everywhere must refuse to play Israeli teams. Current players everywhere must refuse to play against Israeli teams … it’s time for everyone to get off the sidelines.” The audience’s resounding “Yes!” in response left no doubt about the strength of feeling in the room.
All ticket proceeds from the concert were pledged to Palestinian-led organizations through the British charity Choose Love. Beneficiaries include Taawon, which operates orphan care programs in Gaza, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. According to The Algemeiner, the event’s organizers emphasized that the funds would support humanitarian work on the ground, though Israel has long voiced concerns that Hamas diverts aid for its own use or sells it to civilians at inflated prices.
The “Together for Palestine” concert was more than just a fundraiser—it was a forceful statement of solidarity, a challenge to silence and complicity, and a call to action that echoed far beyond the walls of Wembley Arena. As the night drew to a close, the sense of urgency and shared purpose lingered, leaving attendees and viewers alike with a powerful reminder: empathy and action cannot wait.