Azealia Banks carried out in Tel Aviv Thursday night time (October 9), wrapped in an Israeli flag and carrying a Star of David necklace, defying a widespread cultural boycott and reigniting her controversial relationship with the area.

Ahead of her set at Ganei Yehoshua amphitheater, the Harlem-born rapper donned a shirt emblazoned with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s identify.

“I love the Jews,” she mentioned. “My love story with the Jews goes far, far back.”

Her look in Israel marked one of many few worldwide performances within the nation because the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault. Many artists have averted performing there amid mounting strain from the “No music for Genocide” campaign, which launched in September and referred to as on musicians to drag their work from Israeli distribution platforms.

Azelia Banks in Israel!!! Partying and loving the Jewish state!!@iiwasinthee212 pic.twitter.com/FkPAGR52TN

— Betar Worldwide (@Betar_USA) October 9, 2025

Banks’ present stance is a pointy departure from her previous. In 2018, she mentioned she would by no means return to Israel after what she described as racist therapy throughout a earlier go to.

That identical yr, she made antisemitic remarks on social media, claiming Jewish individuals had “complete control over African-American entertainment.”

But in June 2025, she publicly declared herself “a Zionist” and has since used her social media platforms to defend Israel and criticize pro-Palestinian artists.

Her efficiency and on-line commentary drew a wave of criticism. One person posted, “Oh she a different type of p############,” alongside a video of Banks onstage draped within the Israeli flag.

Oh she a unique sort of p############ https://t.co/P5YMzyXZF4

— THESE P#### N##### NOT FEELING ME. (@000Troop) October 10, 2025

Another wrote, “the way she embarrassed herself sounding like ass and showing up for 150 people max for 7 shekels and now she’ll be blacklisted from the 3 garages in queens she would have been booked in order to support paying her rent.”

the way in which she embarrassed herself sounding like ass and exhibiting up for 150 individuals max for 7 shekels and now she’ll be blacklisted from the three garages in queens she would have been booked in an effort to help paying her hire😭— https://t.co/JIjUqPtmMp pic.twitter.com/khjuaFk6dt

— Pop Clocked | AddisonCrave (@PopClocked) October 9, 2025

“There’s absolutely no f###### way, this b#### has completely lost it,” mentioned one other person, reacting to a clip of Banks making ready for the present with a Star of David headpiece.

There’s completely no f###### means, this b#### has fully misplaced it https://t.co/2ddRbF1coe

— IS THERE A BUDGET? (@goldenpolaroid) October 9, 2025

Despite the backlash, Banks has leaned additional into her pro-Israel stance. She introduced she plans to decorate because the Queen of Sheba for Halloween, referencing the biblical determine’s assembly with King Solomon.

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