Richard Gere spoke on stage at tonight’s Together for Palestine concert in Wembley, and on mentioning US President Donald Trump a chorus of boos rang out through the London arena.
As the siege in Gaza approaches its second anniversary, benefit concert Together for Palestine aims to raise vital funds – at the time of writing the figure is just under £1.5million – and awareness for those affected in Gaza and beyond.
The Pretty Woman actor, 76, talked about the feeling of love and community in the room, which he said was the kernel of every ‘great movement’ in history.
He also called out ‘enablers’ of the genocide in Gaza, and on mentioning Donald Trump – who touched down in the UK this week for his second state visit – the sold-out arena erputed into boos.
‘Of course, Netanyahu has to go. All the enablers have to go, also,’ he said to rapturous cheers, before directing attention towards the US President.
‘There’s one man who could stop this thing in one day… He says he can stop wars in one day, my president Trump,’ the Hollywood actor continued.
Hushing the booing crowd with his hand, Richard said: ‘In one day he could stop all this craziness. Netanyahu needs the US, needs Trump so badly. One day, if he wants a Nobel Peace prize this is the way to get it.
‘This caravan we’re all in together, is one of responsibility.’
This comes after the Republican touched down in the UK this week and was greeted with anti-Trump protests.
He’s been wined and dined by the King at Windsor Castle, as 20 miles away 5,000 protestors took to London’s streets with placards calling him, among other things, a ‘nonce’, ‘Fascist’ and a ‘d**k-tator’.
Gere, who was one of many to take to the stage in tonight’s Together for Palestine concert, began his speech talking about the ‘incredible’ sense of community in the room.
‘What an incredible feeling here in this house. The last time I was here I was on stage and I introduced Dire Straits for the concerts for Nelson Mandela,’ he began.
‘I think it’s only right the second time I come it’s for our Palestinian brothers and sisters. I look out here and I see this is London. I can see this is a community. I live outside of New York and we get the news and see what’s going on in Gaza. We don’t know what to do.
‘The way to change it is through community. There’s a sense we’re all so deeply connected. The energy that you all generate here doesn’t stay confined; of genuine peace and non-violence and joy and dancing and singing and eating good food, living.
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‘This energy goes out into the world. That’s how all the great movements on this planet started. Embracing everyone, even the bad guys.
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‘We’re all in this caravan together. Not one of despair: one of love and compassion and dancing. But the caravan of love is also the caravan of truth and responsibility and sacrifice.
‘Standing up, speaking the truth with generosity of spirit and love, because that’s how you change things. You speak up, stand up and let love and inclusion be generated.’
The Primal Fear actor also said that he’s ‘one of the old dogs’ in the room, but he’s ‘never seen’ in his time anything like what’s going on in Gaza.
Over 65,000 Palestinians are confirmed to have been killed by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government.
The figures are seen as a reliable estimate by independent experts and the UN, who also found Israel was committing genocide in the Palestinian enclave yesterday. Israel denies the allegation.
‘What we are witnessing in Gaza is not only an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, but what the UN Commission of Inquiry has now concluded is a genocide,’ a statement read.
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‘States must use every available political, economic, and legal tool at their disposal to intervene. Rhetoric and half measures are not enough. This moment demands decisive action.’
Elsewhere at Together for Palestine, Paloma Faith debuted a song she wrote a few months ago about her experience of going to a pro-Palestine march with her young daughter.
PinkPantheress also took to the stage, and said: ‘We have a responsibility to use our platforms. Neutrality or silence could not be an option. Use your voice, and when your voice goes hoarse, wave your flag and wear your keffiyeh.’
Together for Palestine donations
So far, Together for Palestine has raised just under £1.5million, at the time of writing.
All donations and ticket proceeds from the evening will go to Choose Love, with all funds going to support Palestinian-led organisations providing life-saving humanitarian aid, such as Taawon, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and Palestinian Medical Relief Society.
Florence Pugh came on for a brief statement, and said: ‘Silence in the face of such suffering is not neutrality, it’s complicity.’
Other stars who supported the night by taking to the stage to speak or perform include Louis Theroux, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Jamie xx, Jameela Jamil, King Krule, Sampha, Greentea Peng, James Blake, Sampha, Bastille, Portishead, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Meanwhile, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, took to the stage to elongated cheers.
‘Relinquish an inch of your privilege, so that an entire people don’t have to lose everything,’ she said in a moving speech.
Palestinian singer Elyanna also performed her song Olive Branch, which she said was a ‘symbol for love, for hope, for peace’.
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