Israel
Azealia Banks performs in Tel Aviv on October 7 solidarity visit
The rapper also visited the site of the Nova music festival
October 10, 2025 13:46
The rapper also visited the site of the Nova music festival
October 10, 2025 13:46American rapper Azealia Banks has performed in Tel Aviv during a solidarity visit to Israel to mark the the second anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7 massacres.
The 34-year-old singer, who visited the site of the Nova music festival in the Negev desert; Yad Vashem in Jerusalem; and the Dead Sea during her week-long trip, described October 7 as a day of “deep remembrance – honouring every life taken, every family touched”.
Banks, who prior to her trip spoke to the JC about her love of Israel, performed at the Amphi Tel Aviv wearing a Star of David and draped in an Israeli flag on Thursday evening.
The rapper gained global recognition in 2011 with her breakout hit 212 and continues to maintain a large fan following.
Before she travelled to Israel the 34-year-old told the JC she found the idea of musicians boycotting Israel in hopes of influencing foreign policy ridiculous: “Music listeners or musicians don't have any jurisdiction over war,” she said, and boycotts just mean “entire groups of people are cut off from music”.
She continued: “We already have sanctions on Russia, I can barely reach my Russian audience, and there's a war in Ukraine, so I can barely reach anyone there. I don't think that it's appropriate to keep trying to shut people off from music.
"Once you start trying to ban Russians or ban Israelis from listening to music, then there are so many people that need to be banned from music. I can't be that person because, honestly, the argument just wouldn't stand up.
She added: “The entertainment industry should be the one industry that's left out of all of the sanctions and blockings. That's just what I believe.”
Posting on X the day before Banks’ performance, Israeli minister of culture and sport Miki Zohar said: “We are grateful for your support of Israel and we are happy to host you here, you are a true friend and a great Zionist.”
Additional reporting by Jane Prinsley
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