Kim Kardashian Is Facing Fresh Backlash

Kim Kardashian is facing a fresh wave of backlash as social-media users urge her to use her sizable platform to speak out against the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

Heightened tensions in the region have become a contentious talking point in the weeks since Hamas launched an October 7 surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages to the Gaza Strip.

Israel responded with unrelenting airstrikes and a ground invasion after declaring war on Hamas. An estimated two-thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been displaced, while more than 11,000 people have been killed there and thousands injured, according to the Associated Press.

There have been calls for a ceasefire amid concerns for Palestinian civilians. The AP reported that, in northern Gaza, where the Israeli troops have expanded operations, residents have been without electricity, water, and access to humanitarian aid for weeks.

Newsweek has contacted a representative of Kardashian via email for comment.

The complexities of enduring tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the region, coupled with an ever-increasing number of critics populating social media, has made speaking out on the matter a tough balancing act for celebrities supporting either side. Those who have called for a ceasefire, thrown their support behind Palestinians or Israel or maintained a public silence, have been roundly criticized.

Kardashian spoke out on the conflict days after it began, stating that "brutal terrorism has taken innocent lives and now both Israeli and Palestinian civilians are suffering." Her post came after criticism over not speaking out. Now, her Instagram posts in recent days have been flooded with further demands and criticisms.

Last week, when the mother-of-four shared photos of herself posing with friends La La Vasquez and Stephanie Suganami, several Instagram users used the viral posts as an opportunity to continue highlighting the war.

"Kimmy please use your humanitarian platform to speak upon the injustice that Israel is inflicting on Palestinians," wrote one of her 364 million Instagram followers.

Amid an influx of Palestinian flags and "Free Palestine" statements, another commented: "Do not ignore Palestinian suffering."

One Instagram user posted that Kardashian "speak up," while another commented: "We don't [care] about your looks anymore!!!!!!! Free Palestine."

"Oh look at my outfit it's way more important than speaking out about genocide," another critic wrote.

On the Instagram account of Kardashian's beauty line SKKN, a November 19 post promoting skincare products was met with similar messaging.

"Shame on you for not using your platform to call for ceasefire," wrote one social-media user. "You claim you [are] against genocide but your [inaction] speaks louder than words. Shame on you."

Another told Kardashian that her "voice standing with an ethnic cleansing matters!!! [Your] father would have raised his voice 100%."

Amid the criticism, some Kardashian fans shared favorable reactions, with one commenting: "I love seeing you enjoy life and letting loose!"

"Kim!!! Wow you are on point!!! You are smoking hot in this photo girl," posted another.

On October 11, Kardashian shared a lengthy statement about the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict to her Instagram account.

"A message to my Jewish friends and family. I love you. I support you," Kardashian began. "I have heard about how scared you feel during this time, and I want you to know you are not alone in this. My heart is broken seeing the videos of these babies and families being terrorized and murdered in front of the whole world!"

"As human beings with a heart, how can anyone not be devastated by these horrific images that we will never be able to unsee?" Kardashian added. "Brutal terrorism has taken innocent lives and now both Israeli and Palestinian civilians are suffering and paying the greatest price there is."

Kardashian went on to share her thoughts on the ongoing unrest in Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as the Republic of Artsakh: "As an Armenian, I am particularly sensitive to these issues because I have been talking about the Armenian Genocide for years, and now, after months of blockade with minimal media coverage and no external support, Armenians are the victims of an ethnic cleansing themselves in Artsakh.

"They are in this moment also suffering from an extreme humanitarian crisis, and there are still prisoners of war being held captive or missing," Kardashian added.

"No matter who's side you're on, or how you've been triggered by the horrors of these past few days, our hearts should always have room for compassion towards innocent victims caught in the cross hairs of warring over power, politics, religion, race, and ethnicity."

Concluding her statement, Kardashian said: "Although I know there is nothing I can do to personally get rid of the pain of those who are suffering, my family and I are praying for the safe return of hostages, for those that have hied and their affected families, for peace for all the innocent, and for the perpetrators of this indefensible violence to be brought to justice."

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