Children's entertainer Rachel Griffin Accurso, widely known as Ms. Rachel, has accused celebrities and leaders of racism for their silence on the deaths of Palestinian children in Gaza. In an Instagram post, Accurso suggested that public figures would likely voice their concerns if the affected children were white.
"They probably would say something if these kids were White and from a different place. Please stop being racist and risk something," Accurso stated.
Her remarks come amid ongoing scrutiny of her own activism related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Accurso has repeatedly characterized Israel's actions in Gaza as a "genocide." This stance has drawn criticism, including from podcaster Avi Lichtschein, who stated that Accurso's large platform carries a responsibility to consider the impact of her rhetoric.
Accurso divided public figures into two categories: those who have spoken out about the situation in Gaza and those who have remained silent. She asserted that the silence from some indicates they place less value on the lives of Palestinian children.
"Those who are willing to shout at the top of their lungs that over 20,000 Palestinian children shouldn’t have been killed in the Gaza genocide and those that remain silent because these children are not worth it to them," Accurso said. "I see that you have a hierarchy of children’s lives."
According to a June report from the United Nations' Independent International Commission of Inquiry, at least 20,179 Palestinian children were killed and 44,143 injured between October 7, 2023, and March 31. The commission accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting children and concluded that their conduct was part of what it characterized as genocide. The same report also documented Hamas's actions on October 7, stating that 40 Israeli children were killed and hundreds were injured during the attacks.
Israel has rejected the commission's findings, citing fundamental flaws in its composition, mandate, and methodology. The Israeli government's formal response indicated the report contained significant errors and omissions.
Accurso has faced controversy in the past regarding her online activity. In January, she reportedly "liked" an Instagram comment that contained antisemitic language. Accurso apologized, stating it was an accidental interaction while attempting to delete the comment. She has since maintained that her activism stems from a concern for all people, regardless of background, and rejected accusations of antisemitism.
"Antisemitism and hate of any kind have no place in my life or my work," Accurso said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. She has previously expressed being "horrified by October 7" and denied that her advocacy for Palestinian children implied less care for Israeli children.
During her encounter with Lichtschein, Accurso described her opposition as directed at the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not at Israel itself.
However, Elizabeth Barcohana, the California Republican Party's Jewish engagement chair, criticized Accurso's position. Barcohana called Accurso's outrage "fake" and selective, accusing her of "sanitizing terrorism" and using propaganda. She further noted that Accurso's figure for child deaths in Gaza originated from the "Gaza Ministry of Health," which she identified as Hamas, and argued that the figure does not differentiate between innocent children and those fighting for militant groups, nor does it distinguish the causes of death.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Federations of North America for comment but did not receive an immediate response.