Together for Palestine fundraiser edges closer to £2m target

Together for Palestine, a fundraising event described as the biggest of its kind in the UK, has raised more than £1.6m ($2.2m).

Wednesday's concert saw dozens of singers, actors and others gather in London for a mixture of musical performances, speeches and addresses from doctors and journalists working in Gaza.

The total raised has climbed from £1.4m since the event concluded.

Organisers said the show at Wembley Arena, attended by about 12,000 people, was streamed live by more than 200,000 viewers. It says it will donate its proceeds to organisations working to help Palestinian people.

Charithra says she has felt nervous about speaking out and the potential effect on her career, but adds: "There are people dying, concerns for myself are irrelevant compared to what's happening.

"I have a platform, and I need to use it for what is right."

Her comments come after a number of celebrities at this week's Emmy Awards made statements in support of Palestinian people.

Some of them were also among 4,000 signatures on a letter calling for a boycott of Israeli production companies, festivals and broadcasters "that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people".

The CEO of the Israeli Film and TV Producers Association called the petition "profoundly misguided".

Israel also faces cultural and sporting boycotts that have been compared with measures used to pressure South Africa to end apartheid in the early 1990s.

Several countries have threatened to withdraw from next year's Eurovision Song Contest if Israel, which has participated since 1973, is allowed to take part.

Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Iceland and, most recently, Spain, have all said they will not participate if Israel is allowed to.

It follows protests against 2025 Israeli entrant Yuval Raphael and 2024 performer Eden Golan, who said she received death threats.

Bambie Thug, who placed sixth for Ireland with song Doomsday Blue at 2024's contest, says she's proud of her country for taking a stand.

"I 100% feel the UK should follow suit, I don't know what artist would want to represent the UK this year," she says.

Criticism of Together for Palestine has tended to suggest that celebrities and singers shouldn't get involved with politics or complex causes.

But singer Cat Burns tells Newsbeat that events like this are valuable, and believes they can raise further awareness.

"I think it can spark a lot of change," she says.

"If people see their favourite artist here maybe that will spark people to do some research and support as well.

"I think it's massively important"

But, Cat adds, speaking out is a personal choice.

"I think every artist is their own person and they're going to choose what is right and comfortable for them."

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