Azealia Banks Turns Heads: “Free Palestine Is a Media Industry, Not a Cause”

American rapper Azealia Banks caused a stir with a post on X, claiming more money is spent on media campaigns supporting Palestine than on tangible efforts to “free” it. Banks, who once accused Israel of racism, now criticizes Arab nations for their inaction: “If they can afford Dubai, why can’t they free Palestine?”

Banks further claimed Palestinians are being used as pawns in a proxy war between Israel and the Arab world. “This is not about Islam versus Judaism. It’s about money,” she wrote. Days earlier, when asked if she’s pro-Palestinian or Zionist, Banks replied: “I’m a Zionist.”

She also accused Arab culture of promoting anti-Black racism, saying she refuses to side with a society “that believes Black people should be in chains.” The post referenced past experiences in Israel, including claims of discrimination, but Banks now appears to draw a sharper line between individual incidents and political realities.

Banks' remarks come amid growing debate over celebrity activism, performative politics, and the role of American artists in Middle East discourse.