Zionist Queen is Coming
"I am a Zionist": Rapper Azealia Banks Lands in Israel for October 7 Performance
Rapper Azealia Banks announces Israel visit to commemorate October 7 massacre victims, including plans to visit memorial sites and perform.
The highly provocative rapper Azealia Banks, who has voiced staunchly pro-Israel opinions over the past year, has announced plans to arrive in Israel in the coming days to commemorate the October 7 massacre.
Banks stated on social media that she will land on October 4 to "honor every life taken, every family affected," and declared: "October 7 will be a day of deep remembrance."
The rapper, known for her inflammatory comments, also mentioned plans to hold a performance but did not provide specific details.
Planned Itinerary and Anti-Zionist Controversy
In a series of posts on Sunday evening, Banks detailed her itinerary, which focuses heavily on sites related to the trauma of the attacks and Israeli history:
"I’m landing in Israel on October 4th. I’m coming back to have a real experience without the drama. I'm going to be there, present, spiritual..." she wrote.
Her planned visits include the Dead Sea, the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem, the site of the Nova festival massacre, and the Jabotinsky Institute. Banks added that she plans to meet with
"fans, friends, and my IDF heroes from Duvdevan," concluding, "I’m ready to connect, love, remember, and celebrate the life and love of this place. See you in Tel Aviv."
Previous Pro-Israel and Anti-Arab Statements
Banks first made headlines for her pro-Israel views last June when a X (formerly Twitter) follower asked her opinion on the war in Gaza. She surprisingly responded, "I am a Zionist," and expanded on her reasoning:
"Sorry but I will never be pro-Islam as long as Arabs/Muslims hold Black people in chains. I don't know why you keep asking me the same question. I am for Israel."
She later clarified her stance:
"...I love everyone but you have to get a grip. You won't get a performative 'Free Palestine' call from me when Palestine and the whole Arab world support scriptures (that they stole from Ethiopians) according to which Black people should be held as slaves."
Banks previously claimed that public pressure led to the cancellation of her show at one festival, followed by her voluntarily canceling appearances at two others, Boomtown and Maiden Voyage. She alleged the organizers pressured her for weeks to utter "Free Palestine" slogans. Banks responded by defining her replacement at one event, Swedish Eurovision winner Loreen, as an "antisemitic" adding, "I'm not going to listen to threats, and I'm not wearing a hijab."