Hussein Murtaja says Macklemore's solidarity "matters more than the money"
Hussein MurtajaHead of a Gaza humanitarian organization providing mental-health support to children, quoted by Reuters
Hussein Murtaja, who runs a Gaza humanitarian organization providing mental-health support to children, told Reuters that Macklemore's public solidarity mattered more than the $1 million he donated, saying that when an artist of Macklemore's stature draws more attention to the cause and to a political solution for Gaza, it means a great deal to Gazans.
“When artists of this stature, with this many followers or fans, all come to know more about the cause, and support reaching a political solution, support achieving peace for the people of Gaza... That means a great deal to us.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
At two Ed Sheeran concerts at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore called for a free Palestine, accused Israel of apartheid and genocide, and said criticism of Israel was not criticism of Jewish people. After venue objections, tour promoter Messina Touring Group said he would not perform the remaining U.S. Loop Tour dates. Critics characterized the performance as hostile or inappropriate; Macklemore defended it as a call for equal treatment.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Reuters wire report, September 18, 2026, on a mural painted in Gaza City honoring Macklemore after his removal from Ed Sheeran's tour. It also quotes Hussein Murtaja, who runs a Gaza mental-health organization for children, saying Macklemore's solidarity "matters more than the money he donated," and Toby Fricker, a UNICEF official, on the need for sustained rather than one-off support. CBS News carried the same reporting as a video segment on X; this record cites the fuller wire text via the Jerusalem Post republication, credited to Reuters and photographer Dawoud Abu Alkas.
Before the quotation
Reuters reported the comment alongside coverage of the Gaza mural honoring Macklemore and a UNICEF official's remarks on the need for sustained rather than one-off aid.
After the quotation
The same Reuters report quoted muralist Anne Redwan thanking Macklemore directly; that statement is recorded separately.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Murtaja praises the value of Macklemore's public stance itself, independent of the donation, which endorses the conduct under scrutiny. There is no competing label to weigh; the statement is a direct, unqualified endorsement of Macklemore speaking out.
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The Dispute Index. "Hussein Murtaja says Macklemore's solidarity "matters more than the money"". First published: 2026-09-18. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1021-hussein-murtaja-who-runs-a-gaza-humanitarian-organization