Entertainment · Celebrity · 7 hrs ago
Shawn Mendes calls Gaza conflict a genocide, drawing nonprofit criticism
Shawn Mendes said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza in a post to his Instagram followers on Thursday.
The Canadian singer said he had been educating himself about the conflict and called for an end to the killing of Palestinians.
He urged people to speak up, learn more and donate, and tagged several pro-Palestinian organizations, including the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
Creative Community for Peace called his statement irresponsible and one-sided, while saying it applauded his efforts to learn.
The Jewish nonprofit argued that his post repeated what it described as a false claim and warned that public figures can spread misinformation.
Israel denies committing genocide and says its military takes measures to protect civilians, while accusing Hamas of operating from civilian areas and using civilians as human shields.
The dispute highlights the responsibility of public figures when speaking about the war, but no further action by Mendes or the nonprofit is stated.
Shawn Mendes said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and urged his followers to help Palestinians and donate.
He posted the statement on Instagram on Thursday, tagging several organizations, including the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
Creative Community for Peace criticized his post as biased and called the accusation of genocide “irresponsible.”
Israel denies committing genocide, and its military says it takes extensive measures to avoid harming civilians.
Pro-Israel activist Hen Mazzig also criticized Mendes for not mentioning Hamas in his statement.
- Who
- Shawn Mendes, a Canadian singer-songwriter, made the statement. Creative Community for Peace and activist Hen Mazzig criticized it.
- What
- Mendes accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and urged support for Palestinians, including donations.
- When
- Thursday, 12 November 2026.
- Where
- Mendes posted the statement on Instagram.
- Why
- Mendes said he had been educating himself about Gaza and felt a need to help; he urged others to support Palestinians.
Shawn Mendes
Creative Community for Peace
Genocide accusation
Shawn Mendes
Mendes said there is a genocide happening in Gaza.
Creative Community for Peace
CCFP called the accusation a dangerous lie and said Mendes’s understanding appeared biased and one-sided.
Public statements
Shawn Mendes
Mendes urged people to speak up and help Palestinians.
Creative Community for Peace
CCFP said public figures should avoid amplifying misinformation and should take responsibility to understand the issues they discuss.
Mendes said at a concert in Lisbon that he felt heartbreak over Palestinian suffering and condemned antisemitism.
Mendes performed at an Artists for Aid benefit concert in Los Angeles that raised funds for humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and Sudanese civilians.
Mendes posted his statement about Gaza on Instagram and encouraged followers to help and donate.
Creative Community for Peace criticized Mendes’s statement.
- Instagram following
- 68 million, according to the Times of Israel
- Organization tagged
- Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
- Other organizations tagged
- Watermelon Pictures and Woven Futures Fund
- CCFP response
- Called Mendes’s post “irresponsible” and said it suggested a “deeply biased and one-sided” understanding of the conflict
- CCFP open letter
- Signed by more than 6,000 leaders and public figures, according to TheWrap
3 sources
What people are saying
Free Palestine. There is a genocide happening before our eyes.
Turning pain and suffering into hatred towards Jewish people as a whole is wrong.
By accusing Israel of genocide, Shawn is repeating a dangerous lie propagated by Hamas and rooted in Soviet-era propaganda.
He claims he is being educated, yet fails to mention anything about Hamas’ crimes against Jews and Palestinians.
Posts on X
Shawn Mendes, known for a hit song from over half a decade ago and Lyle Lyle Crocodile, is now singing to the tune of "Free Palestine" to his 68M followers. He claims he is being educated, yet fails to mention anything about Hamas' crimes against Jews and Palestinians. My