One Direction's Zayn Malik was a target of Twitter death threats, after posting the message "#FreePalestine." Zayn Malik's Twitter post has been retweeted almost 160,000 times.

On Sunday night, July 27, One Direction singer Zayn Malik posted a simple, 15-character message to his 13 million Twitter followers: "#FreePalestine."

Little did he know his message would erupt into a full-scale debate between his fans. Just look below to see the range of emotions Zayn's followers felt - from relief that a celebrity believes in the Palestinian cause, to death threats claiming that Zayn wants Israelis dead:

@zaynmalik if you only knew ... So many Israeli fans just disappointed rn

— ☹ PLEASE LUKE ☹ (@ahuvakel) July 28, 2014

@zaynmalik Zayn thanks for this tweet — FREE PALESTINE (@Purplejewelzxc) July 28, 2014

@zaynmalik I LOVE U SO MUCH OMG

Since his Twitter post last night, the message has been retweeted and favorited almost 160,000 times.

According to the Daily Mail, some fans said the comment would result in him losing a fanbase in Israel.

One wrote: 'U have fans in #Israel. It broke me that one of my idols wand me to die @benwinstone @harry_styles @onedirection [sic].'

Zayn Malik, who is half-Pakistani and half-British, was raised Muslim and has a few tattoos in Arabic.

Zayn Malik is engaged to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards.