GAZA — Children's entertainer Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, announced on September 17, 2026, that she would donate $1 million to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. Accurso stated her contribution matches a $1 million donation by rapper Macklemore to organizations supporting Palestine. "Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting," Macklemore said. "A genocide is happening in Gaza," Rachel Accurso said.

Accurso made the announcement on Instagram, where she called on other public figures to contribute similar amounts. "I will match Macklemore’s donation and I invite every wealthy white celebrity to match it and speak out against the genocide in Gaza," Accurso said. She added that "over 20,000 precious Palestinian children have been killed and children continue to be killed every day."

The entertainer emphasized the responsibility of those with large platforms to address humanitarian crises. "We have a moral obligation to use our privilege and platforms to protect children and human rights," she said. As of 2026, the Ms. Rachel YouTube channel has more than 21 million followers.

Macklemore had announced his donation one day earlier, on September 16, 2026. The rapper pledged to give the entirety of his net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations focused on Palestinian aid. "I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people," Macklemore said.

Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's tour after Kraft refused to allow him to perform at Gillette Stadium. Kraft stated he barred Macklemore from the stadium due to antisemitism, a characterization Macklemore denies. In his announcement, the rapper emphasized the value of all lives. "A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth," Macklemore said.

Accurso criticized Ed Sheeran's decision to remove Macklemore from the tour schedule. "Ed Sheeran had an opportunity [to] show that we won’t be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine," Accurso said. She argued that the decision reflected pressure to silence support for Palestine. "Instead he caved to people who refuse to accept what the world knows," she said.

The Palestine Children's Relief Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) non-governmental organization established in 1991. Accurso became a global ambassador for the fund in 2025. Her previous activism includes raising more than $1 million for children in war zones including Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. Earlier in 2026, Accurso joined a campaign to close the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas.

In January 2026, Accurso apologized for accidentally liking an antisemitic comment on Instagram. "Yesterday, I accidentally liked a hateful comment on my social media while trying to delete it," she said at the time. She clarified her position on hate speech. "I have always been completely clear on this; I do not support language that targets or harms the Jewish community or any community," she said.

Why It Matters

Celebrity donations have driven increased visibility and funding for aid organizations operating in the region. UNRWA USA reported receiving more than $509,000 from Macklemore's song royalties prior to this specific tour donation. The organization has gained 203,000 donors since October 2023, allowing them to send more than $117 million in aid during that period.

Aid representatives note that such public gestures help sustain attention on ongoing humanitarian needs. Tareq Hailat, director of strategic engagement at Palestine Children's Relief Fund, stated there are children dying every single day. He noted that teams on the ground remain in constant danger while attempting to provide food and medical care to affected populations.

What's New

Rachel Accurso announced on September 17, 2026, that she would match Macklemore’s $1 million donation to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and called on every wealthy white celebrity to match the gift. Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, pledged $1 million to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, matching Macklemore’s donation and calling on other wealthy white celebrities to match the gift. Rachel Accurso, the children’s entertainer known as Ms. Rachel, announced on Instagram that she is matching Macklemore’s $1 million donation to organizations supporting Palestine.

The six organizations receiving Macklemore's donation are Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, UNRWA, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, and Anera. Macklemore announced that he would donate $1 million of his earnings from the tour to six organizations dedicated to Palestinian aid, including the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Online donors contributed more than $72,000 to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund following Macklemore's announcement. Mara Kronenfeld, CEO of UNRWA USA, said it will increase that much more with Macklemore’s extremely humane gesture.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on details regarding Rachel Accurso. An Instagram post by Rachel Accurso states that Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, announced she will donate $1 million to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. That Rachel Accurso became a global ambassador for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund in 2025.

Sources also present different details regarding the relief fund. An Instagram post by Macklemore lists that the six organizations receiving Macklemore's donation are Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, UNRWA, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, and Anera.