Pro-Israel propaganda groups have criticized the American sportswear brand Alo for featuring Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid in its new advertising campaign.
Pro-Israel propaganda groups have criticized the American sportswear brand Alo for featuring Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid in its new advertising campaign.
These pro-Israel organizations constantly accuse Bella Hadid of having an anti-Israel stance due to her open support for Palestine and the ongoing aggression by Israel in Gaza. This aggression has resulted in the deaths of over 73,000 Palestinians and injuries to more than 174,000 people since October 2023, not including those missing under the rubble.
According to Al Jazeera, neither Bella Hadid nor Alo has provided an official response to this criticism. The publication ELLE reported that Bella is now the face of Alo's new 'pre-season campaign,' which includes the Airlift Rebel Bra and High-Waist 7/8 Rebel Leggings. The photoshoot was held in Los Angeles, and Alo published a photo on Instagram with the caption: 'The deeper your roots, the higher you fly.'
Alo's new campaign has garnered widespread approval among activists advocating for Palestine, who stated on social media their support for the American brand for using Bella. Comments included statements such as: 'I will buy it for the first time because I love Bella Hadid' and 'It seems like a company I would want to support!'
Bella Hadid regularly uses social media to advocate for the rights of Palestinians, calling for humanitarian aid. She also openly speaks about her Palestinian roots, posting numerous related posts on Instagram. Two years ago, she posted an Instagram picture of a dress in a Palestinian keffiyeh style, writing: 'Palestine is in my thoughts, in my blood, and in my heart. Always... Although I still have to go to work, even through this horror, wearing our culture makes me a proud Palestinian, and I want the world to keep seeing Palestine wherever we go.'
The Arab League vehemently condemned Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, which hit displaced persons shelters and residences, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries. Furthermore, the organization criticized a broad military campaign in the West Bank, characterized by demolitions and arrests.
According to the representative of the pan-Arab organization, all these activities carried out by Israel in recent days demonstrate a clear intention to frustrate the plan established for the second stage of the truce agreement in Gaza. This agreement provided for the cessation of Israeli military operations and the withdrawal of troops from the devastated Palestinian enclave.
The Egyptian leader emphasized the urgency of Israel being held fully accountable for the evident attempts to undermine the mediation efforts. These efforts are being conducted by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States, aiming to end the war in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack on Israel.
Nabil Fahmy warned that Israel must not be allowed to achieve its objectives of extending and expanding the occupation in Gaza. Hamas also issued a warning on Sunday, indicating that Israel is provoking an intentional escalation in Gaza to block the agreement signed on Thursday with the United States and prevent progress to the second phase of the truce.
Donald Trump had announced last week a pact for the complete disarmament of Hamas. This agreement stipulates that Israel must comply with what was agreed upon in the Sharm el-Sheikh Protocol, specifically the cessation of military hostilities, as detailed in the roadmap released by the US Head of State on the X network.
The roadmap also includes the gradual reduction of the military capabilities of Hamas and other groups in Gaza, as well as the dismantling of tunnels and arsenals, in addition to the implementation of an international monitoring system throughout the process. The first condition established in this document requires Israel to fully and without delay comply with all pending commitments under the Sharm el-Sheikh Protocol, notably the cessation of military operations, a prerequisite that also applies to all Palestinian factions.
A student who claimed to be subjected to 'anti-Jewish' hatred at a London university violated a memorial ceremony for graduates killed in Gaza. According to a group chat journal reviewed by Middle East Eye, she apparently edited quotes to bolster her position.
Tali Smus, who calls herself a 'British Zionist' on Instagram, recently published an article for the Telegraph newspaper titled: 'How I am being persecuted for my beliefs as a Jewish student at King's College.'
In this article, she describes how in September 2024, after starting her studies, her English literature classmates began attacking her in an Instagram chat, calling her 'damn Zionist.'
Smus claims that 'nearly 100 people attacked me against one' after she 'tried to discuss our different views and have a productive conversation.' In conclusion, she writes: 'I am a Jewish student at King's College London (KCL), and I refuse to be a statistic. The antisemitic hatred I have faced will not remain a statistic.'
The Telegraph article was published on July 17, shortly after an Al Jazeera investigation into 'strict measures against pro-Palestinian students' at the university. This occurred during the government's 'review of antisemitism in English schools and colleges.'
However, the quotes Smus uses to confirm the accusation that she is a victim of 'antisemitic hatred' differ from those in the group chat journal from which the messages allegedly originated. She continued to use and write in this chat long after the specified period.
Furthermore, she has past and current ties to several 'extremist' groups supporting Israel, which have a track record of denigrating and intimidating Palestinians and activists supporting Palestine. Over the weekend, Smus appeared on GB News as a recipient of the Stand With Us scholarship, which is right-wing and supports Israel. The Guardian describes this group as one that 'closely cooperated with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including opposing boycotts in support of Palestine.'
She also received a scholarship and created media content for the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Coverage and Analysis (Camera). Additionally, she is president of the KCL student organization Students Supporting Israel, which is partially funded by the Adelson family, who successfully lobbied US President Donald Trump to move the American embassy to Israel in Jerusalem.
Camera describes its scholars as 'leaders on campuses in North America, the UK, and Israel, actively spreading the truth about Israel.' The organization also links them to various media outlets. In July 2025, Smus started a blog for the Times of Israel titled: 'Have you heard of James O'Brien. An antisemitic commentator on LBC.'
According to her LinkedIn profile, Smus worked as a research assistant at the far-right Henry Jackson Society, whose senior researcher, former British army officer Andrew Fox, amplified Smus's story. She is currently a policy research intern for Conservative Deputy Home Secretary Chris Philp, whom she met at the Britain 'March Against Antisemitism' event.
Tali Smus did not respond to numerous emails from MEE regarding the allegations in this article. The Telegraph also did not respond to similar questions and requests for comment.
In her Telegraph article, Smus states that one student in the chat wrote to her: 'If she interrupts... the lecture tomorrow again... she should be kicked out.' However, the actual message in the chat seen by Middle East Eye reads: 'If she interrupts the writing lecture tomorrow again, I swear to God, she should be kicked out'—which is KCL's official policy allowing instructors to ask disruptive students to leave the lecture hall or classroom.
She further writes that another student wrote: 'As a group we should just unite and throw her out at that moment.' Although it is possible that this message was sent and then deleted, Smus did not answer the question of providing proof of its sending.
In other places, according to the chat journal, Smus appears to have altered messages concerning herself. In one instance, she writes that someone wrote 'bitch, sit down,' which would be a direct threat to her, whereas the chat journal contains the phrase 'this bitch sat down,' which, however unpleasant it may be, is a description and was sent in the context of Smus waving the Israeli flag on campus before a demonstration in support of Palestine.
The journal shows that another student wrote about 'trying to enlighten Zionists,' while the Telegraph article records this as 'finally, an attempt to enlighten Zionists.' Smus claims that it was 'nearly 100 against one,' meaning the entire group was against her, but message analysis shows it was closer to 20 students who voiced objections to her stance on Israel, especially regarding the genocide in Gaza.
At one point, one student defended Smus, writing: 'What is happening to the hooligans? This goes beyond differences in political ideologies or beliefs—it is outright persecution... Please be respectful.' Smus remained in the group and continues to send messages there to this day.
Despite other students in the group acknowledging that some messages sent by Smus might have been unpleasant, they insisted that it was her support for Israel, not her identity as a Jewish student, that provoked their anger.
A KCL academic noted: 'She is afraid to attend classes but feels safe attending demonstrations that should be hostile to her.' In October 2024, shortly after the messages were sent, KCL sent an email reminding students of their conduct obligations.
On October 7, 2024, a pro-Palestinian protest and demonstration took place on campus. This action partly commemorated Dr. Maysara Al-Reyes and Dr. Adnan al-Burshi, two KCL graduates killed by Israel. In her Telegraph article, Smus writes that 'on the first anniversary of the horrific Hamas attack on Israel, activist students planned a pro-Palestinian march to mark the 'year of genocide'.' She continues: 'The fact that 1200 innocent Israelis were killed that day, and over 250 taken hostage, did not matter.'
Yet, she does not mention that she participated in a counter-demonstration in support of Israel and was photographed with a large Israeli flag. She also does not mention that the procession was partly a mourning for two graduates killed by Israel. An unnamed KCL academic told MEE: 'She is afraid to attend classes but feels safe attending demonstrations that should be hostile to her to create content for Instagram. Other students dislike her. That's it.'
One chatmate said: 'I think some of my messages, as well as others, might seem indecent to some. I regret some phrasing—I was a first-year university student, and encountering someone who shamelessly supports Israel's terrible actions in Gaza touched a nerve in me and many others.'
In the Telegraph, Smus claims she was against it because she 'did not hate Israel,' and that this, combined with her Jewish identity, led to a 'flood of insults.' However, the chat journal shows that from the beginning, she clearly indicated that she had long supported and defended Israel's actions. This is precisely why, according to fellow students and faculty, she was attacked.
