British-Egyptian actor Khalid Abdalla has released a new song dedicated to the children of Gaza and urged fellow artists and public figures to "stand up" for Palestinian rights.
The actor, known for his roles in The Kite Runner and The Crown, said the song came from a deeply personal place. Titled For the Children of Gaza, the track is Abdalla’s first public musical work tied directly to a political cause.
"I found myself when I stood with the Palestinians," Abdalla told CNN in a live interview. He added that his artistic and moral experience has been shaped by what he described as an "unbearable human situation that cannot be met with silence".
The Netflix star described the song as more than a musical composition, calling it a reflection of moral commitment and human solidarity.
"It is a message that carries my name with honesty for the first time in this context, an ethical stand and a human participation at a time when Gaza is experiencing deep suffering," he said.
The actor also encouraged other artists to reject passive observation and instead take initiative through voice and action. "Art has a responsibility to take a position," he said.
The song has quickly gained popularity online, with thousands of views and shares across social media platforms.
Activists and fans described it as "a dose of artistic hope that tries to restore humanity in a blood-soaked scene". One user on X wrote: "When truth is sung from the heart, it resonates everywhere." Another commented: "What I needed today was exactly a song like this."
Abdalla said the track was inspired by video footage showing the daily lives of Palestinians, especially children, under bombardment. "The song is a voice directed at children who have lost even the moments of their innocent childhoods," he said. "They have the right to carry hope and to have voices that protect them, even from afar."
"Justice begins with a human voice that doesn’t sleep," he added.
In recent weeks, Abdalla has emerged as one of the most prominent voices in support of Palestinian rights in the cultural sphere. Another Egyptian star, Laila Eloui, also posted a clip in support of the initiative, saying: “Every voice that rises builds bridges of hope over the wreckage of war.”
It comes after the actor was detained by the Metropolitan Police and attended a "formal interview" in relation to a pro-Palestinian rally he spoke at on 18 January.
More than 70 people were arrested on the day of the protest on suspicion of breaching restrictions that banned protesters from marching towards the BBC's New Broadcasting House in central London