Children’s social media star deletes collaboration with Gazan extremist

An American social media star who specialises in children’s education has removed a video showing her collaboration with a Palestinian influencer who said, regarding lives, that “a single Palestinian is more important than a thousand Israeli[s].”

Rachel Griffin-Accurso, better known by her stage name Ms. Rachel, boasts tens of millions of followers across social media channels, including more than 15 million on Youtube. Her children’s show, picked up by Netflix in 2023, is one of the most popular on the global streaming channel.

Griffin-Accurso had shared a video on Instagram, of her telling her audience that the letter of the day is “M, for my friend Motaz!” Motaz Azaiza, a Gazan with an Instagram following of more than 16 million, can be seen cheering in the background.

Azaiza, who previously worked for the UNRWA agency and managed to leave the Strip last year, developed his social media following due to his photojournalism, in which he documented elements of the 7 October attacks and the ensuing Gaza war. Time magazine included him on its list of the “100 Most Influential People of 2024”.

However, Azaiza has previously stated on social media that “For me, the lives of Palestinians is [sic] way more precious than the Israeli lives (the ones who occupy Palestine)…a single Palestinian is more important than a thousand Israeli[s].”

He has also been accused of support for Hamas, having posted on social media mourning the death of the Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar – the architect of the 7 October massacre – appearing to encourage Palestinians to follow his example.

He stated, in Arabic: “Sinwar didn’t want a beautiful mourning from you, nor to mention his effects in written poems. He wanted you in the field: were you in the field?”

In a 2024 interview, he also refused to condemn the terrorist group, stating at the time that “Hamas is part of Palestinians. They have their own way to fight, like other factions, like other Palestinians. They chose this way – there’s Palestinians fighting with politics; there’s Palestinians fighting with their hands, with stones; there’s Palestinians fighting with weapons.”

Griffin-Accurso has produced a significant amount of pro-Palestinian content since Israel responded to the Hamas attacks of 7 October, including videos with Palestinian children and wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh. However, her promotion of Azaiza led to social media backlash.

Jewish influencer Gabi Sara stated: “Whether she knows it or not, Ms. Rachel just introduced a man who openly supports terrorism into a space for toddlers. That is deeply inappropriate and mirrors a disturbing parallel to the beginning of the indoctrination journey for kids in Gaza.”

Hamas have a history of using children’s television as a medium to engage in jihadist indoctrination. A particularly notorious example was a show aired by Hamas’s Al Aqsa TV in the 2000s, Tomorrow’s Pioneers, which featured a Mickey Mouse look-alike which encouraged children to engage in Jihad against the Jews. Another episode of the programme specifically honoured Palestinian suicide bomber Reem Rayisha and featured her children in the studio. During the episode, the hosts of the programme excitedly asked the children if they would follow in their mother’s footsteps.

After removing the offending post on Instagram, Griffin-Accurso immediately posted a statement saying: “I condemn HAMAS. I condemn October 7th. I condemn taking precious Israeli children and civilians hostage. I condemn killing precious Israeli children and civilians. I condemn war crimes, human rights violations, children’s rights violations.

“I condemn the Israeli government. I condemn killing precious Palestinian children and civilians. I condemn using starvation as a weapon against children and civilians. I condemn bombing hospitals and schools. I condemn war crimes, human rights violations, children’s rights violations.”

Despite having claimed on Boston’s WBUR to have met with hostage families, Griffin-Accurso has yet to make a video with any Israeli children or raise money for any organisation that helps them.

She has, however, raised money for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, an organisation that NGO Monitor claims has partnered with the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.

Earlier this week, she posted: “What people don’t understand is that my career and reputation will never matter to me as much as standing up for kids. What people don’t understand is that no amount of cruel name-calling or false accusations will stop me from standing up for kids.

Jewish News has contacted Griffin-Accurso’s representatives.