'Please go visit!': Supermodel Bella Hadid promotes Palestinian-owned New York record store on Instagram

Palestinian-American supermodel Bella Hadid endorsed a Palestinian-owned record shop based in New York City this weekend and encouraged music fans to visit the store.

Village Revival Records, which has been owned by Palestinian-American Jamal Alnasr for nearly three decades, is situated in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village.

In pictures posted on Instagram, Hadid poses with Alnasr and browses through a vast array of records, including a compilation LP mix called "Palestinian Lives: Songs from the struggle of the people of Palestine".

Hadid urged her followers to visit the shop, saying: "197 Bleeker Street, NY. NY. @villagerevivalrecordsNYC. Please go visit my friend Jamal. All welcome, records for everyone!!!!"

It was accompanied by a series of Palestinian national flag and heart emojis.

 

 

 

 

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New York is home to a sizeable Palestinian community. Alnasr opened the record store in 1994 some years after he worked at his uncle's music store, getting acquainted with the music of the time.

The Palestinian business owner says music helped him connect with people from all walks of life, as well as  "keeping him alive" in times of stress and depression.

Alnasr ended up closing the store briefly in 2017 following a bout of mental health issues, but the popular music store re-opened a year later time under a new name following a revelation that he "needed music in his life".

Several Instagram followers of Hadid praised her promotion of the local Palestinian-owned business, including her father Mohamed, who thanked her for "all she does" for her "community, family, friends and the beautiful Palestinian people".

Hadid often uses her platform to advocate for Palestinian causes. The supermodel condemned Israel’s bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip, which has killed at least 43 Palestinians, including 15 children.  The Islamic Jihad group agreed to an Egypt-brokered truce with Israel late on Sunday, following three days of Israeli military aggression.

Hadid's elder half-sister Alana, also shared posts and infographics about Israel's bombardment of Gaza on her Instagram account.

Hadid has also shared posts about Israeli settler raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Palestinian refugees, and the right to return, as well as the killing of veteran Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.