Mia Khalifa slams US support for Israeli military

Former Lebanese American adult actress Mia Khalifa, known for her outspoken support of human rights, has slammed Israeli violence against Palestinians.

Khalifa joined a growing chorus of international public figures drawing attention to the situation unfolding in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where Israeli police have injured hundreds of Palestinians using batons, rubber bullets, and stun grenades.

Israeli bombing in Gaza has also killed dozens of Palestinians, including at least ten children.

Khalifa took aim at Washington's military aid budget to Israel in a tweet featuring distressing images of Palestinians suffering at the hands of Israeli forces.

"All I see are crimes against humanity that the United States is funding with an annual $3.8B. #freepalestine," Khalifa wrote.

In another post on Wednesday, the former adult film star pre-emptively deflected criticism of her stance, drawing a line between opposition to Israel and bigotry toward Jews.

Khalifa explained: "It's Anti Zionism, not anti Judaism, ever."

A subsequent post featured a screenshot of celebrities that Khalifa said "de facto support Palestine".

Names included Hollywood actors Wesley Snipes and Nicolas Cage, American singer and songwriter Lauryn Hill, as well as rapper Ja Rule.

One Twitter user hit back at Khalifa's latter tweet, writing: "I'm sorry girl but this time you have no idea what you're talking about. Easy to sit in the other part of the world and to comment about things you don't even know".

Read also: Timeline: This week's deadly Israeli attacks on Gaza, Jerusalem

Khalifa - who moved to the US in 2001 in the wake of the South Lebanon conflict between Israel and Hezbollah - responded that her solidarity with Palestinians comes rooted in her own traumatic experiences from Israeli bombing.

"You're right. I'm privileged to sleep safely in my bed tonight. But I vividly remember living through sirens, air strikes, ground shaking, walls rattling in hideout basements, and destruction in Beirut due to unrest. I say #FreePalestine as loudly as I say 'pray for Lebanon'."

In January, Khalifa donated $20,000 to the Lebanese Red Cross in recognition of its aid efforts following the devastating August port explosion in Beirut. In the immediate aftermath of the blast, which killed over 200 people, Khalifa auctioned glasses she wore during adult career, raising over $100,000 for victims.



Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected