Celebrities whose Palestinian ancestry you were unaware of
The Israel-Palestine clash has continued for decades, and the recent conflict was initially ignited by Hamas' strikes on October 7. There are a lot of well-known celebrities with Palestinian roots, including Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, and a host of others. Find out which prominent individuals from around the world have roots in Palestine.
Gigi Hadid
Many people are aware of Gigi Hadid and Bella's ties to the Palestinian state, but few are aware of their intimate connection. Mohamed Anwar Hadid, Gigi's father, was born into a Muslim family in Palestine and fled the country during the 1947-1949 war. For those unaware, Gigi's real name is Jelena Noura Hadid. The supermodel has often addressed her relationship with the nation, and recently uploaded an Instagram post lamenting the "unjustifiable tragedy."
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid and Gigi are both half-Dutch and half-Palestinian, with their father being born into a Muslim family in Palestine, fleeing the country during the 1947-1949 war. Bella's real name is Isabella Khairiah Hadid. She has often utilized her platform to highlight the afflictions and tragedies that marginalized people endure, but the subject that appears to be closest to her heart is Palestinian human rights. However, the 2022 Model of the Year remains radio-silent amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled is a well-known DJ and record producer who was born in Palestine and is a first-generation American. Khaled is the son of Palestinian immigrants who owned and operated a tailoring shop. Khaled briefly resided in Ramallah, where his mother was born, as well as Mishra, where his father is from, between the years 1984 and 1986. Although he was born in Louisiana, he is still incredibly proud of his Palestinian roots.
Ramsey Nijem
Ramsey Nijem was the only UFC fighter for Palestine to represent in 2014, and he is as proud as any fighter to represent his country despite the strife in his native nation. Nijem, whose father is a Palestinian immigrant and was born in Concord, California, still has kin in the Middle East. Nijem earlier stated, "Being Palestinian, I get to go fight in the Middle East. I’m in the UFC, and I get to fight on the sport’s biggest stage in front of my heritage, my people, my roots."
Queen Rania of Jordan
Queen of Jordan, Rania Al-Yassin, was born to Palestinian parents in Kuwait. Her father, Faisal Al-Yassin, was a native of the West Bank town of Tulkarm. She also shares Turkish ancestry on the side of her maternal grandfather.
Rashida Tlaib
United States Congresswoman Rashida Harbi Tlaib was born in Detroit and is the oldest child of a working-class Palestinian immigrant family with 14 children. Her family rejoiced when she became the first member of Palestinian descent to be elected to Congress in 2018. The Tlaib family made headlines throughout the world in 2019 when Donald Trump reached Israel to forbid Rep Tlaib from seeing her elderly grandmother because of her sympathy for the Palestinians.
Omar Sheika
Omar Sheika is a professional boxer from the United States and has Palestinian ancestry. Sheika had a prosperous professional career, winning the National Middleweight Championship at the 1996 National AAU Boxing Tournament, and has previously challenged for the super middleweight world title.
May Calamawy
Actress May El Calamawy is an Egyptian-Palestinian and has lived and worked in the United States. Calamawy was born in Bahrain to a Palestinian-Jordanian mother and an Egyptian banker father. She was primarily raised in Bahrain, but before she was twelve, she also spent six years traveling around between Houston, Texas, and Doha, Qatar.
Cherien Dabis
Filmmaker Cherien Dabis was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her mother is from Salt, Jordan, while her father is a physician of Palestinian ancestry. She grew up in the small Ohio town of Celina and frequently spent her summers in Jordan. At age 8, Dabis made his first trip to Palestine. Her debut movie, 'Amreeka', which was well-received at both Sundance and Cannes in 2009, was about a Palestinian immigrant raising her teenage son in Indiana.
Anwar Jibawi
Anwar Jibawi is a well-known Palestinian-American online celebrity known for his YouTube videos and earlier work on the Vine app. Jibawi mostly produces hilarious material and has over 10 million YouTube subscribers as well as over 13 million Instagram followers. Jibawi earlier stated, "I’m Middle Eastern and grew up in a Latino community, so I love playing all types of roles that appeal to all types of cultures."
