New York club uses pictures of Hamas assault on Israel to advertise ‘fundraver’ for Palestinians
A New York nightclub advertised a party using a picture of Hamas’s assault on Israel that was billed as an “intifada fundraver”.
The event, held at The End nightclub on Sunday, was promoted with an image of Hamas terrorists using a bulldozer to punch a hole in the border fence with Israel.
Gunmen later flooded through the gap as part of a multi-pronged assault which killed more than 1,400 Israelis.
The nightclub’s advertisement sparked an immediate backlash, with critics also expressing anger that the event was dubbed a “fundraver” after Hamas gunmen stormed the Nova music festival in southern Israel, killing more than 260 people.
“Did you think about the 260 that were murdered at a rave? Shame on you,” said one social media user.
Tickets for the Brooklyn event started at $17 (£14), with donations going to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and medical aid for Palestine.
The nightclub defended its decision to host the party, saying it had been “twisted by politicians and social media”.
“This is a peaceful fundraiser for the Palestine children’s relief fund and medical aid for Palestine. We are not here to promote violence of any kind,” The End said in a statement.
But critics said it was ill-judged regardless.
“The issue is not with raising funds for Palestinians. The issue is you celebrating the idea of intifada,” said one social media user in response to the club’s statement.
Intifada means “shaking off” or “tremor” in Arabic and in the Israel-Palestine conflict specifically refers to two historic uprisings of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The first intifada began in December 1987 and ended in September 1993 with the signing of the first Oslo Accords.
In 2000, Israeli-Palestinian relations sank to a new low with the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada. It ushered in a period of suicide bombings and shooting attacks by Palestinians and Israeli air strikes, demolitions, no-go zones and curfews.