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Chaka Khan has released a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after it was revealed that she had performed at a fundraiser organised by the Friends of the Israel Defence Forces (FIDF) in 2012.

Khan is due to perform at Meltdown Festival at the Southbank Centre this weekend. 

Collectives due to perform at the festival, including Queer Soundsystem operator Gideon, who is part of Chakha’s programme, threatened to pull out over Khan’s performance at the FIDF event.

That appears to have prompted a statement from the singer.

“I understand that a performance I undertook at a fundraiser organised by the FIDF 12 years ago in 2012 may have led some to misinterpret my appearance as an endorsement of the organisation’s initiatives,” she wrote. 

“To clarify, I do not support any actions that perpetuate violence, inequality, or human rights violations anywhere in the world. I am against war in all its forms and stand with all artists calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

“Music has the power to unite us, to heal, and to help us see the love in one another. It is a universal language that speaks directly to our hearts. As a musician and human being, I feel a deep responsibility to use my platform to promote peace, understanding, and unity.”

Friends of the Israel Defence Forces is an organisation established in 1981 dedicated to the men and women serving in the Israel Defence Forces, wounded veterans, and the families of fallen soldiers.