Lana Del Rey says she prays for Palestine 'every day' and calls Gaza war 'unfathomable'

American singer Lana Del Rey has said she prays "every day" for Palestine and described Israel’s war on Gaza as "heartbreaking and unfathomable".

In a comment posted under an Instagram story on Monday, the American star addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza after fans questioned her silence. The post itself had been dedicated to victims of deadly flash floods in Texas.

"And yes of course we pray for Palestine every day," she wrote. "I wish for peace between all nations and am constantly up on all of the news between the Israel Palestine conflict."

The statement marks one of the few public declarations the artist has made about the conflict since Israel launched its assault on Gaza.

"It’s always difficult to watch any innocent victims killed by crimes of war," she continued. "There is never a good way of wording things that will make all people happy but that is my personal truth."

Del Rey added that she was "very hopeful when we were getting close to a peace treaty," in reference to ongoing ceasefire negotiations that have so far failed to produce an agreement, and said her views are based on ongoing research. "This is a long ongoing conflict and one I’ve studied hard to understand. It’s heartbreaking and unfathomable to think there hasn’t been a way to find some resolution," she said.

"It’s a topic of conversation in many of my daily conversations and we’re constantly considering what we can do to contribute in all situations like this. I always have been," she added.

Del Rey also acknowledged she may face criticism for her stance, adding:  "There is never a good way of wording things that will make all people happy but that is my personal truth."

Her comments as Gaza's civil defence agency on Tuesday said that 29 people were killed in Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory, devastated by 21 months of war, as Israel and Hamas consider a US-backed ceasefire proposal. Aid agencies have warned of famine, mass displacement, and the total collapse of the health system in the besieged enclave.

Del Rey has previously faced scrutiny over her engagement with the region. In 2018, she cancelled a planned performance at the Meteor Festival in Tel Aviv after backlash from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

At the time, she initially defended the decision to perform, claiming that music was a "universal language" and that her performance was not intended as a political statement. But she later tweeted: "It’s important for me to perform in both Palestine and Israel and treat all my fans equally."

Del Rey joins a growing number of artists and public figures who have spoken out about the war in Gaza, including Macklemore, Kehlani, and singer Dua Lipa, who signed a recent letter calling for a permanent ceasefire.