Hook: Serj Tankian, System of a Down, pro-Palestine stance. Why are some artists willing to risk their careers, while others get by with an Instagram post? Hypocrisy, opportunism, infantilism—or something else entirely?
The thesis is simple: Serj Tankian and company say "Free Palestine," condemn Israel, call Hamas "parasites"—but live in LA, tour the world, have never been to Gaza, and easily equate the peaceful Palestinian population with terrorism. Or vice versa—equate the peaceful Palestinian population with Hamas, which is far more offensive to Palestinians.
I set out to verify. Not to agitate, but to dissect: who truly pays for their words, who gets by with rhetoric, who profits from "rebellion," and whether there exists an artist with a consistent, action-backed stance on both sides of the conflict.
Let’s peel back the layers.
Before judging artists, let’s look at their "addressees"—the Palestinians themselves. Source: PCPSR (Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research), Ramallah. Methodology is rigorous: sample of 1,200–1,270 people, margin of error ±3.5%, fieldwork conducted in Gaza itself (including Rafah and northern Gaza) and the West Bank. This is a Palestinian institute—but methodologically the most respected in the region.
The thesis that "all Palestinians support Hamas" is an oversimplification, but not a complete lie. A majority do support it, consistently, despite the war. A minority in Gaza opposes Hamas, and that minority exists—but artists who say "Palestine ≠ Hamas" are actually positioning themselves as defenders of this minority against the will of the Palestinian majority.
This creates a moral paradox that most Western activists prefer to ignore: when you say "I stand with Palestinians but against Hamas," you’re siding with ~40% of Palestinians against ~60%. That doesn’t mean Hamas is the right position. But it does mean you don’t represent the majority.
And one more detail that falls out of the Western narrative: 90% of Palestinians deny the massacre videos. This isn’t "political disagreement with the operation." It’s a refusal to acknowledge the fact itself. And this is the soil in which Western artists grow their "Palestine ≠ Hamas" narratives.
Before tearing into Tankian, let’s check the facts.
Direct quote from NME, June 2024:
"It's important for the youth to raise their voice, because we are not living in a just world. I think in some cases, pure activism is taken hostage by certain fringe elements of society, including in the US—certain anti-Semites who have gotten into that world. However, I think the majority of the activists and their intentions are pure."
"In terms of the Hamas invasion of Israel, I want to say that was obviously a terrorist act and they are war criminals and deserve to be punished. But, the Netanyahu government's response is also—as we can see with the number of civilians that have died—a war crime."
This is a measured position. Tankian:
This isn’t verbal diarrhea. It’s a thought-out position, hard to dismiss as simple hypocrisy.
Tankian left Lebanon at age 7, before the Civil War (1975–1990). This means:
This is an important correction to the initial thesis. Tankian didn’t absorb Lebanese anti-Semitism—he absorbed the American leftist agenda, Armenian genocide memory, and family trauma. A different motivation.
Tankian is a counterexample, not proof of hypocrisy. He:
This is a consistent but asymmetrical position. More like genuine conviction than cheap PR. But "genuine" doesn’t mean "adequate."
Before throwing stones, let’s gather data on 11 cases. Table:
| Artist | Stance | Toured Israel After 10/7 | Visited Palestine Personally | Donated to Palestinians | Canceled Israel Contracts | Lost Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serj Tankian | Pro-Palestine, condemns Hamas | Never | No | Benefit album (2014) | Yes (never played) | $0 directly, but raised $600K for Armenia |
| Roger Waters | Pro-Palestine, BDS | No since 2006 | No | No data | Yes (Neve Shalom 2006 → boycott) | BMG contract terminated (2024) for anti-Semitism |
| Macklemore | Hind’s Hall (2024) | No | No | No data | Canceled Dubai (but over Sudan!) | Minimal |
| Massive Attack | Israel boycott | Never (since 1999) | No | No data | Yes | Yes, lost market since 1999 |
| Kneecap | Pro-Palestine | No | No | No data | Yes | Bans = popularity boost ("just made us bigger") |
| Patti Smith | Signed BDS | Yes (pre-BDS, 2007) | No | No data | No | $0 |
| Dua Lipa | Stand with Palestine | Yes (in 2014 as a teen) | No | No data | No | $0 |
| Lana Del Rey | I pray for Palestine | No | No (promised in 2018) | No data | Canceled Tel Aviv 2018 | Minimal |
| Melissa Barrera | Pro-Palestine | No | No | UNRWA donation | Lost role in Scream VII | Yes, lost contract |
| Bella & Gigi Hadid | Pro-Palestine | No | No | $1,000,000 | — | Yes, $1M is real money |
| Kehlani | Pro-Palestine | No | No | $555,000 via merch | — | Yes, $555K is real money |
| José Andrés | Humanitarian aid | — | Worked in Gaza personally | — | — | 7 WCK staff killed by Israel |
| Angelina Jolie | Humanitarian | — | Rafah (2026) | — | — | — |
| Gene Simmons | Pro-Israel | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jerry Seinfeld | Pro-Israel | — | — | — | — | — |
Only three out of 15 cases actually pay for their stance with money: the Hadid sisters ($1M), Kehlani ($555K), Melissa Barrera (lost her role). Only two truly risk their lives: José Andrés (WCK staff killed in April 2024), Angelina Jolie (physically visited the border). The rest—an Instagram post or a viral song.
This is the structural problem: "Palestinian activism" for most Western artists is cheap PR. Israel is a market of ~9 million people. Losing that market through boycott is insignificant for a global artist whose audience is the US/Europe. In other words, boycotting Israel costs nothing, but it buys a "rebellious" image that, conversely, makes money.
Before generalizing, let’s note the exceptions to avoid simplistic criticism.
They’ve boycotted Israel since 1999. 25+ years. No tours, no licensing, openly articulate their stance. This comes at a cost: they genuinely lose the market. And this is a model showing that consistency is possible.
Fired from the Scream VII franchise in November 2023 for pro-Palestine posts. Months without work in Hollywood. In January 2024, nearly lost her WME agency for supporting UNRWA donations. This is a real loss—and, incidentally, the UNRWA donation puts her in a tough spot: 9 UNRWA employees were fired by the UN after an investigation into their involvement in the October 7 attack (AP, Reuters, NBC). Donating to UNRWA isn’t a neutral gesture.
$1M and $555K aren’t "cheap PR." That’s real money. The question: where did it go? The Hadids donated to UNRWA and Palestinian agencies—but didn’t disclose the full list. Kehlani directed donations to Palestinian organizations, Sudan, Congo. If even part reached civil society groups (B’Tselem, Palestinian NGOs in healthcare), it’s a meaningful contribution. If it went to UNRWA—it’s supporting a structure with confirmed ties to terror.
The Welsh indie band turned down a $60K deal with Airbnb in 2025, releasing the track "Free Palestine. Eat the rich." For an indie band, that’s not pocket change, but still a gesture.
This is important for balance. In October 2023, 700+ Hollywood celebrities signed an open letter in support of Israel. Among the signatories:
This is the other extreme—but it shows that "Hollywood solidarity" works both ways. Most Jewish artists sided with Israel. Most non-Jewish leftists sided with Palestine. This isn’t so much a moral choice as cultural identity.
Gene Simmons is a special case for our discussion. He’s of Armenian descent, like Tankian. His family are Armenian genocide survivors. And he’s openly pro-Israel. Compare:
Gene Simmons: "Israel is a refuge for people the whole world tried to destroy. Armenians, Jews, Kurds—we all know what it’s like to be a people without protection."
Serj Tankian: "Israel recognized the Armenian genocide in 2026, but it’s hypocrisy—while they wage war in Gaza."
One trauma. Two conclusions. This is the key paradox for the essay: the interpretation of genocide doesn’t predetermine political stance. From the same family memory, you can arrive at "Israel is our ally" or "Israel is an oppressor, like Turkey once was."
In January 2024, Israel presented the UN with evidence that UNRWA employees directly participated in the October 7 attack. By August 2024, the UN had fired 9 employees after an internal investigation (AP, Reuters, NBC). Israeli intelligence claims another 19 employees were directly involved in the attack.
This is critical for artists because:
Donating to UNRWA after January 2024 is either ignoring the scandal or a conscious choice. Artists who do this must realize that their money goes to a structure with confirmed ties to terror.
BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti openly states that the movement’s goal is the end of Israel as a Jewish state. This isn’t "two states for two peoples." It’s liquidation.
ADL, CAMERA, JNS classify BDS as intrinsically anti-Semitic. Netanyahu accused its founders of anti-Semitism as far back as 2014. The New York Times ran a major analysis in 2019—but since then, the paper’s position has shifted. There’s no neutral stance here: either you’re for the liquidation of Israel (and then it’s not BDS, it’s anti-Zionism in its extreme form), or you’re for two states (and then you’re not in BDS).
Most Western artists who sign BDS letters don’t know this difference. To them, "BDS" = "solidarity with Palestinians." This is infantilism, not malice, but the consequences are the same.
Let’s calculate realistically:
A Western artist supporting Palestine in 2024–2026:
A Western artist supporting Israel:
This is an asymmetry of incentives. No wonder most choose the first option.
Macklemore: wrote Hind’s Hall, canceled Dubai (over Sudan, not Israel), didn’t donate a cent to Palestine, never been to Gaza, lost nothing. This is opportunism disguised as conscience.
Lana Del Rey: in 2018, promised "I will be visiting Palestine" after canceling her Tel Aviv concert. Eight years later—no record of the visit. This is a forgotten commitment.
Dua Lipa: "I stand with Palestine" on Instagram, played in Israel in 2014 (when she was 19—understandable), but after the 2021 BDS letter, took no action. This is post-activism.
Roger Waters: played in Israel in 2006, then started boycotting. BMG contract terminated for anti-Semitism (Nazi uniform at a Berlin concert, 2023). He’s consistent, but that consistency includes anti-Semitism that’s no longer "criticism of Zionism," but the real thing.
Patti Smith: signed a BDS letter but previously played in Tel Aviv in 2007—meaning her stance formed later. This is evolution, not hypocrisy, but not consistency from the start either.
Massive Attack: 25+ years of boycott, open articulation, real losses. A model.
Melissa Barrera: lost her role in Scream VII over posts. A victim, but the UNRWA donation is questionable.
Hadid sisters: $1M in donations—that’s real money. But their family is of Palestinian origin; for them, it’s personal, not opportunism.
Serj Tankian: boycotts Israel, condemns Hamas, supports Armenia, never been to Palestine, hasn’t donated significant sums. Genuine, but asymmetrical—helps his own trauma (Armenia), not someone else’s (Palestine).
A few honest observations to wrap up:
First, the thesis that "all Palestinians support Hamas" is an oversimplification, but not a complete lie. A majority of Palestinians do support the October 7 attack even after two years of war (PCPSR No. 96). 90% deny the massacre videos. This isn’t a people waiting to be saved from Hamas. It’s a people who voted for Hamas in the 2006 elections (the last time they were held) and continue to support them after all the casualties.
Second, Western artists who say "Palestine ≠ Hamas" don’t actually represent the Palestinian majority. They represent that minority which exists in Gaza—but it’s a minority without a voice in its own society.
Third, the hypocrisy of artists isn’t the main problem. The main problem is that the loudest voices in support of Palestine belong to people who don’t know what they’re supporting. BDS isn’t "two states." It’s the liquidation of Israel. UNRWA isn’t a neutral humanitarian organization. It’s a structure with confirmed ties to terror. Hamas isn’t the "Palestinian government." It’s a movement that carried out a massacre on October 7.
Fourth, artists who actually help do so quietly: José Andrés, Angelina Jolie—neither shouts about Palestine at every turn because they’re busy working. That’s the difference between an activist and an infantilist.
Fifth, exceptions exist and should be named: Massive Attack (25 years of consistency), Los Campesinos! (£60K refusal), Melissa Barrera (lost career), Hadid sisters ($1M). These aren’t hypocrites. They’re artists who pay.
Tankian and Simmons—both Armenians, both from Lebanon, both descendants of genocide victims. One is for Palestine. The other is for Israel. And both are sincere in their positions. This shows that trauma doesn’t predetermine conclusions. It provides energy—but where to direct it is up to you.
And here’s the main lesson for those who believe in the "obviousness" of either side. When two people with the same family memory arrive at opposite conclusions, and both are willing to pay for them, it means there’s no simple answer. There are only people who talk and people who act. And, as usual, the latter are better than the former.
Sources: PCPSR (Polls No. 95, No. 96), Reuters, AP, NBC, BBC, NME, Rolling Stone, Vulture, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, CNN, JTA, JNS, ADL, CAMERA, setlist.fm, historyofadown.com. All quotes are from public interviews and statements, 2008–2026.