WASHINGTON: Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who co-produced a Broadway musical with former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, faced criticism in her home in Pakistan on Thursday. As a result, she denounced Israel and reaffirmed her support for the Palestinians in Gaza.
Some have criticized Yousafzai, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner, for partnering with Clinton, an outspoken supporter of Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
The musical titled “Suffs,” which opened last week in New York, portrays the American women’s suffrage movement for the right to vote in the 20th century.
Yousafzai posted on X, the previous Twitter, saying, “I want there to be no confusion about my support for the people of Gaza.” “We do not need to see more dead bodies, bombed schools and starving children to understand that a ceasefire is urgent and necessary.”
She continued: “I have and will continue to condemn the Israeli government for its violations of international law and war crimes.” Since last October, when the Gaza conflict started, Pakistan has witnessed several intensely emotional pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Popular Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar said on social media site X on Wednesday that Yusafzai’s “theatre collaboration with Hillary Clinton — who stands for America’s unequivocal support for the genocide of Palestinians — is a huge blow to her credibility as a human rights activist. “I consider it utterly tragic.”
Clinton has publicly advocated for protections for Palestinian civilians even though she has supported a military effort to drive out Hamas and rejected calls for a cease-fire. Yousafzai has demanded a cease-fire in Gaza and openly denounced the deaths of civilians.
According to the New York Times, the 26-year-old supported a ceasefire by wearing a red-and-black pin to the “Suffs” premiere last Thursday. Yet Yousafzai’s choice to work with Clinton, according to author and scholar Nida Kirmani, was “maddening and heartbreaking at the same time” on X. What an utter disappointment.”
