The Nobel Prize winner and girls’ educational rights activist Malala Yousafzai crticized the US government for not having used its influence to stop war in Gaza and responded to accusations of her silence over Israel’s genocide against Palestinians under the Financial Times Women in Business Summit.
“Just looking at the American role in this has been really disappointing. The United States has so much power and influence that it has not used to actually create peace, stability or to protect human life,” she said. She expressed her hope that the United States would take stronger actions to stop Israel’s genocide in Gaza, push a ceasefire and allow humanitarian help to flow into the region.
In response to accusations of her silence of genocide in Gaza, she said these claims are not based on facts. “Examination is always present for public persons. One of the reasons for this is that some people deliberately fail to control. For example, I have been subjected to control to allegedly be silent about Gaza, but I have talked about it many times since 2014,” she said.
Malala emphasized her ongoing efforts to raise awareness and provide support, and noted: “I have used my platform to advocate for this matter and contributed to donations to building schools in 2014, 2021 and 2023, as well as provide emergency scholarships to organizations to help many children in Gaza right now.”
She also highlighted the situation of Afghan women and girls suffering from the Taliban government and condemned the regime’s actions. “What happens to women and girls in Afghanistan. I hope the United States will take stronger actions to support women and girls there, intensify its endeavors and build more global pressure on the Taliban. I encourage them to stand with Afghan women and activists and bring their voices at the forefront.”
Malala ended with strengthening the meaning of collective action and saying, “We are all on the same page; we all speak for the same case.”
