Cease-Fire Now: 16 Benefit Compilations for Palestine

Graphic by Chris Panicker

More than seven months after Israel declared war in Gaza, in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7, the international movement for Palestine is gaining strength in tandem with the urgency of the humanitarian crisis. Earlier this month, rapper Macklemore declared his support for pro-Palestine campus protests with “Hind’s Hall,” a song honoring six-year-old Hind Rajab that raised money for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He’s not the only Western musician to take a public stand recently: Big Thief’s Adrienne Lenker and Cloud Nothings’ Dylan Baldi each recorded charity solo EPs benefitting the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF). And at the Camp Flog Gnaw festival in November, rapper Redveil called on fans to take political action as he displayed the names of children killed in Gaza.

Working outside of major labels, these artists and hundreds more—especially those in the international electronic music community—have collaborated to produce an impressive array of new charity releases that raise money for organizations operating in Gaza, including UNRWA, PCRF, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), and others providing urgently needed food, water, and medical supplies. Below, find an alphabetical list of 16 notable recent benefit compilations that build solidarity and raise funds for Palestinian causes and humanitarian aid.

A HOMELAND DENIED: A Compilation for the Palestinian Liberation [Hardcore 4 Gaza] (2024)

Hardcore 4 Gaza Initiative, the namesake group from Lyon, France, behind A HOMELAND DENIED: A Compilation for the Palestinian Liberation, gathered 121 bands from around the world—including Thou, Stick to Your Guns, Initiate, Twitching Tongues, Racetraitor, Cloud Rat, and END—to contribute music and cosign a lengthy collective statement. “We oppose the killing of civilians anywhere and mourn their deaths,” it reads, “but it is foolish to believe this violence from the oppressed exists in a vacuum.” The sprawling tracklist spans hardcore, punk, metal, and screamo, with some bands dipping into their archives for unreleased tracks or new remixes, while others formed new projects entirely. Proceeds from this release will be donated to MECA, either by purchasing through Bandcamp or donating directly and emailing a receipt to hardcore4gaza@gmail.com. –Nina Corcoran

Bologna for Palestine [Maple Death] (2024)

Bologna for Palestine opens with a call to action, read by sound artist Agnese Banti on behalf of the featured contributors. Curated by Banti and Laura Agnusdei and released under European indie label Maple Death, Bologna documents a live performance by 17 Bologna-based musicians in support of Palestine. Originally a three-hour event held at the city’s Dispositivo Arti Sperimentali, this experimental record comprises 20 electroacoustic tracks, including two that incorporate voices from the first day of the International Court of Justice hearings in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel. Track seven features a poem by the late Palestinian poet Fadwa Tuqan. Proceeds from this release will be donated to the Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund. –Boutayna Chokrane

By the People, For the People [House of Afandi] (2023)

Jordan’s House of Afandi Records, in collaboration with Souq Sounds, SceneNoise’s Noise Records, and SoundSource Studio, compiled By the People, For the People, a 39-track album showcasing talent from the SWANA diaspora. Palestinian artists like rapper Ma-Beyn, alt-blues singer Shadi Zaqtan, and producer Big Murk join forces with British Lebanese DJ Saliah, Jordanian indie pop band Autostrad, Lebanese folk songwriter and guitarist Rogér Fakhr, and others. From funk and soul to Afrobeats and grime, “this body of work symbolizes the world’s collective roar of support, a pledge that we are standing as one, deeply experiencing their pain, and resoundingly inspired by their enduring spirit,” organizers write. Proceeds from this release will be donated to PCRF. –Boutayna Chokrane

CEASEFIRE [NRFVA00FP] [NR Magazine] (2024)

Milan-based print publication NR Magazine collaborated with the arts collective/radio show Formula Worldwide to curate CEASEFIRE, a compilation that spans 37 different electronic and sound artists. Played in sequence, the techno- and trance-focused set conjures up the dizzying rush of a warehouse rave. Proceeds from this release benefit MECA, which provides emergency assistance to children and families in Gaza. Album organizers also encourage listeners to donate to a provided list of additional aid organizations, including Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), PCRF, and MSF. –Eric Torres

For Palestine [GUNK] (2023)

New York City indie rock blog GUNK assembled this 52-track compilation that features many friends of the local DIY scene, including Frankie Cosmos, Told Slant, Sex Week, nara’s room, Jane Lai, and Lea Jaffe (who sings the traditional “Far Side Banks of Jordan”), plus Boston’s Mutual Benefit and blog editors Ceci Sturman and Hannah Pruzinsky’s own musical projects. The sound trends toward calm, intimate acoustic bedroom pop, though there are a few curveballs, too. Proceeds from this release will be split between the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) and the refugee aid organization Anera. –Anna Gaca

For Palestine [Paralaxe Editions] (2023)

The description of For Palestine, from Barcelona-based imprint Paralaxe Editions, doesn’t mince words: “What is happening now is not a new conflict. The horrific images we are currently seeing in Gaza are simply the latest manifestation of an oppressive system that dates back decades,” writes label manager and curator Dania, who also works as an emergency medicine doctor. At 64 tracks, the supersized compilation gathers ambient and experimental artists across the globe, including Tunisian hypnotist Azu Tiwaline, TraTraTrax boss Verraco, and Kenyan sound artist KMRU, to drift through eerie field recordings, droning loops, and echoing abysses. Proceeds from this release benefit Palestinians in Gaza via MSF. –Isabelia Herrera

Free Palestine: A Compilation for Humanitarian Aid [Human Endeavour] (2024)

The London-based imprint Human Endeavour, operated by Rosie Ama Cain, curated the 17-track compilation project Free Palestine: A Compilation for Humanitarian Aid. It’s a collection of dark, immersive electronic music, ranging from UK techno to Italo dance. The mesmerizing artwork is by Palestinian artist Jeena Ra, who also contributes the final song, “Love Is Resistance,” a trance-y tune that feels like lying on the beach and letting the waves wash over you. Among other contributions to the album are a spaced-out track by Glasgow’s JD Twitch, Jurango’s slow-creeping “Burwood,” and Ambien Baby’s psychedelic “La Tia.” Proceeds from this release benefit MAP and War Child UK. –Alphonse Pierre

Hurryia for Gaza II (Freedom for Gaza II) [S/R] (2024)

Swiss DJ and dub producer Phrex dropped his second benefit compilation in January, teaming up with Syrian audiovisual artist xlmxkhfi (Sarah Huneidi) and Palestinian beatmaker Asifeh, who’s also the co-founder of the Ramallah Underground Collective. The 16 tracks blend instrumental hip-hop, ambient, and dabke beats. Palestinian artist Areej Kaoud closes the album with a spoken word performance: “When we say free Palestine, it’s a promise, not a wish.” Proceeds from Hurryia for Gaza II are currently being donated to Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund, UNRWA, and Sanad Palestine; Phrex is also selling fundraiser merch. (Donation receipts can be found on his Instagram.) –Boutayna Chokrane

International Chromies Vol. 15 [International Chromies] (2024)

For a techno benefit that really bangs, look to the latest entry in Berlin-based label International Chrome’s long-running charity series. International Chromies Vol. 15 kicks off with the catchy sloganeering of Philadelphia DJ estoc’s “until it’s backwards” and zips through a tight selection of techno, baile, and bass music, spotlighting tracks from Chicago’s Zvrra, Medellín’s WOST, Milan’s Miss Jay, Amsterdam’s Retromigration, and more. Palestinian-Jordanian artist Mothanna Hussein, founder of the protest poster archive Free Palestine Project, created the equally poster-worthy peace sign artwork. Past entries in the International Chromies series benefited causes including the refugee crisis in Greece, racial justice protests in Milwaukee, and First Nations people in Australia; proceeds from this Palestine edition benefit MSF and fundraisers for Gazans seeking to relocate. –Anna Gaca

Merciless Accelerating Rhythms - Artists United for a Free Palestine [HATETOQUIT] (2024)

Merciless Accelerating Rhythms unites voices of resistance from the U.S. and the UK for a powerhouse compilation that spans noise-rock, ambient electronica, psychedelic folk, and more. Brooklyn label HATETOQUIT and folk-rock band Hiding Places curated this 55-track album, inviting talents like Little Wings, Mount Eerie’s Phil Elverum, and Magnolia Electric Co.’s Jason Evans Groth (as Groakus). The album title pays homage to anti-apartheid writer and activist June Jordan’s “I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies,” a poem dedicated to Agostinho Neto, the first president of Angola: “I plan to blossom bloody on an afternoon surrounded by my comrades singing terrible revenge in merciless accelerating rhythms.” Proceeds from this release will be donated to PCRF and Palestine Legal. –Boutayna Chokrane

Musicians for a Free Palestine [S/R] (2024)

Speedy Ortiz’s Andy Molholt, Babehoven’s Maya Bon, and singer-songwriter Raquel Denis organized the massive compilation Musicians for a Free Palestine to unite over 70 bands eager to direct funds towards Gazans in need, with most artists contributing original indie rock, folk, and alt-rock songs. The list of contributors verges on overwhelming, with Mannequin Pussy, Deerhoof, Frankie Cosmos, Cloud Nothings’ Dylan Baldi, Cassandra Jenkins, and dozens more sharing previously unreleased tracks or demos. Musicians for a Free Palestine focuses specifically on helping Gazans access phone services, with each purchase covering the cost of an eSIM: an industry-standard digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan from their carrier without needing a physical SIM card. –Nina Corcoran

Palestine Solidarity Compilation [S/R] (2024)

Over two dozen artists from punk’s noisy, experimental, goofy corner combined forces at the start of this year to create Palestine Solidarity Compilation. It’s composed entirely of unreleased tracks, featuring 27 hits of powered-up egg punk from the likes of Billiam, Pyrex, Powerplant, and more. In true egg punk fashion, those who opted to cover Coneheads, Bruce Springsteen, and Village People did so in a predictably eccentric manner. Cassette copies of Palestine Solidarity Compilation released by labels Godless America and Idiotape are sold out, but listeners can donate any amount to a Palestine aid group of their choice—organizations suggested by the compilation’s creators include UNRWA, PCRF, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Anera, MAP, and PYM—and email the donation receipt to gd4palestine@gmail.com to receive a download code. –Nina Corcoran

RESIST COLONIAL POWER BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY [PTP] (2024)

New York-based storyteller, organizer, and artist Geng PTP put together the colossal Resist Colonial Power by Any Means Necessary, a compilation album released through his collective and label PTP. With more than 90 songs across numerous genres, the album gives artists a platform for resistance at a moment when it’s easy to feel helpless. Among those 90-plus tracks are a hypnotic dance cut from Jersey producer JWords, a fast-paced DJ Manny joint, a soothing Yaeji single, razor-sharp raps from Gabe ’Nandez with Preservation on the beat, and many, many more. Proceeds from this release benefit the people of Palestine through the GoFundMe Urgent Support for Medical Professionals in Gaza (and other fundraisers for residents who need help relocating) as well as the citizens of Haiti through Cultural Capital Haiti. –Alphonse Pierre

Rise Up: BDS Mixtape Vol. 2 [Amplify Palestine] (2023)

After the 1967 war, when Israeli officials banned public displays of Palestine’s flag and colors, the watermelon became a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. The hot pink and fruity artwork of Rise Up, by Palestinian artist Elias Rischmawi, celebrates this creative resistance. Amplify Palestine’s BDS Mixtape is a multi-genre, multilingual series inspired by Artists United Against Apartheid’s 1985 protest song “Sun City.” This 16-track edition notably features El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe’s folktronica, Red Baraat’s dhol percussions and bhangra funk, and Alsarah & the Nubatones’ East African retro-pop sounds in standout track “Men Ena”—written in 2019 during the Sudanese revolution. Proceeds from this release benefit Adalah-NY, a BDS campaign calling for the end of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands. –Boutayna Chokrane

We Will Stay Here — Music for Palestine [Love Boat Records] (2024)

Andrea Pomini of the Italian record label Love Boat curates this compilation of specially commissioned avant-garde electronic composition and sound design, with eye-catching cover art (also available as a T-shirt) by Jordanian-Palestinian artist Tala Abunuwar. Adventurous soundscapes span the anxious buzz of Bawrut’s “Collateral Damage,” Cairo producer 3Phaz’s muscular club cut “YKK,” and Mai Mai Mai’s collaboration with mijwiz flute player Osama Abu Ali. In “Jafra,” Berlin-based Egyptian producer Assyouti’s clattering beats and siring synths surround a distorted sample of a Palestinian folk song. The closing track, by Not Waving, is an ambient meditation and tribute to the late poet Refaat Alareer, author of “If I Must Die.” Proceeds from this release benefit MAP. –Anna Gaca

Women of Noise for Palestine [Women of Noise] (2023)

The Polish platform Women of Noise, which aims to support women and femmes within the realm of experimental and alt-rock, released this jam-packed compilation in December. The all-femme lineup recruits artists from every style and corner of the globe, charging through harsh layers of distortion only to retreat into airy synth clouds. Leshi’s “Battlefield Hymn Before the Sky Burial” is a highlight, colliding rasping breaths and gasps under a sinister, droning loop and grating chants. Halfway through, the duo introduces a clanging bassline into all the chaos, and you just have to surrender. Initial proceeds were donated to PCRF; since March, organizers require listeners to make individual donations to PCRF to receive a download code. –Isabelia Herrera

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork