From NAZA to Ed Sheeran: Israel Is Losing the World | Soumaya Ghannoushi | MEE Opinion

Soumaya Ghannoushi, a writer and expert in Middle Eastern politics, argues that institutional attempts to censor artists who speak out about Palestinian suffering are backfiring. She explains why artists have a duty to challenge state power rather than simply entertain it. Ghannoushi points to the removal of Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's stadium tour, a decision driven by stadium owners like Robert Kraft. She contends that corporate leaders who suppress political speech lack the moral authority to act as gatekeepers of public culture. Citing the intense political backlash faced by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor over their Gaza documentary, NAZA, she emphasizes that modern suppression tactics are counterproductive. Canceling artists or threatening directors only draws greater global attention to their message, proving that while institutions can control stages, they can no longer suppress the broader conversation surrounding Palestine.