“Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave — they are,” Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid said as she broke her silence on the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

Hadid, who had been vocal about the Palestinian cause in the past, had remained silent since the resurgence in violence in Palestine 21 days ago.

“Forgive me for my silence. I have yet to find the ideal words for this deeply intricate and horrific past two weeks, weeks that have turned the world’s attention back towards a situation that has been taking innocent lives and affecting families for decades. I have much to say, but for today, I will keep it short,” she wrote in statement posted on Instagram on Friday.

Hadid said that she had been sent hundreds of death threats daily, her phone number was leaked and that her family has felt to be in danger.

“But I can not be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave — they are,” she added.

“My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood. Seeing the aftermath from the airstrikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends that will never again walk this earth, Hadid wrote in her post

Hadid said she also mourned for the Israeli families that have been dealing with the pain and aftermath of October 7.

“Regardless of the history of the land, I condemn the terrorist attacks on any civilians, anywhere. Harming women and children and inflicting terror does not and should not do any good for the Free Palestine movement. I believe deep in my heart that no child, no people anywhere, should be taken away from their family either temporarily or indefinitely. The goes for Israeli and Palestinian people alike.”