Black Lives Matter has been at the forefront of global protests against police brutality and systemic racism since the death of George Floyd in 2020. But the group’s leadership is now facing criticism from a surprising source – the first black Miss Israel, Yityish ‘Titi’ Aynaw.
In an emotional video on Instagram, Aynaw, who won the Miss Israel crown in 2013, slammed Black Lives Matter for their support of Hamas – the terrorist organization responsible for the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East.
Aynaw, who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia at the age of 12, called out BLM for their signature slogan, ‘I can’t breathe,’ and reminded them that it is the Israeli people who are currently struggling to breathe under the constant threat of violent attacks.
She highlighted the innocent victims of the conflict – women, children, and babies – and those who have been taken hostage by Hamas. Aynaw also reminded BLM that Hamas is no different than ISIS, and that their actions go against everything the group claims to stand for.
This comes after a Chicago-based Black Lives Matter group shared a post that appeared to support Hamas’ actions.
In an interview with the New York Post, Aynaw emphasized the need for BLM to educate themselves on the facts and understand who they are truly supporting. She also emphasized that there is a large community of black Jews in Israel, including many soldiers and officers who are fighting for their country.
The former Miss Israel, now 32 years old, rose through the ranks of the Israeli Defense Forces to become an officer before competing in the beauty pageant. She has been living in Israel since she was 10 years old, after being orphaned and going to live with her grandparents.
Aynaw shared her personal experience of facing discrimination in Israel, both for her skin color and Ethiopian name. But despite this, she was determined to make history and ‘blaze a trail’ by becoming the first black Miss Israel.
In 2013, Aynaw made international headlines when she was pictured alongside then-President Obama at a state dinner in Jerusalem. She described the meeting as a surreal and exciting experience, and was praised by Obama for her beauty and height.
After the dinner, Aynaw gushed about meeting Obama, calling him a ‘world-class hunk’ and an ‘extraordinary gentleman.’
Aynaw’s strong stance against BLM’s support for Hamas has not gone unnoticed, with many praising her for speaking out against the controversial group. She wants to use her platform to educate people on the truth about the ongoing conflict in Israel and to shed light on the black Jewish community in the country.
In the face of criticism and backlash, Aynaw remains steadfast in her beliefs. She believes that it is important for people, especially those in positions of influence, to be well-informed on complex issues before making statements or showing support for certain causes.
As the conflict in Israel continues, Aynaw’s powerful words serve as a reminder that the situation is much more complex than what meets the eye, and that true support for black lives should extend to all communities, including the black Jewish community in Israel.
