Some Hollywood celebrities line up with Gaza
DUBAI – Celebrities from Hollywood and across the globe are speaking about the increased military escalation in Gaza. While many have come out in support of Israel in its efforts to prevent another Hamas massacre of its people, others are having a hard time mustering much sympathy for the babies, elderly, and other Israelis who were indiscriminately slaughtered last week.
British actor and Oscar-winner Riz Ahmed, who is of Pakistani descent, took to Instagram to say there are “no two sides” to current events in Gaza, but only “the side of humanity,” and pleaded for an “end to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza’s civilians.”
“What happened in Israel last week was horrific and wrong. The pain and fear so many are feeling is deep, and real,” he wrote, referring to the October 7 attack by Hamas.
“What’s happening in Gaza now, and has been happening in Palestine under the occupation for decades, is horrific and wrong. The depth and reality of this suffering cannot be ignored. If we look in only one direction, we will go even into darkness,” he continued.
“But that is exactly what is happening right now. We are being asked to look away while the civilians of Gaza, half of them children, are running out of time. If we are on the side of humanity, we must urgently speak up to try and avert the loss of innocent life.
“This means calling for an end to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza’s civilians and vital infrastructure, the denial of food, water, and electricity, and the forced displacement of people from their homes. These are morally indefensible war crimes.”
US actor John Cusack took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to show his support for Palestine, saying: “I was out at the Palestinian march in Chicago. I’ll tell you what I didn’t hear; I didn’t hear death to Israel, I didn’t hear death to Jews, I didn’t hear people celebrating the murders of Israeli civilians.
“What I did hear is: we must free Palestine from a brutal occupation – people concerned for their loved ones, in a hell zone, stuck without food, water, and power. Deep anguish over people being told to leave and bombed as they left,” Cusack wrote.
US Egyptian actor-filmmaker Ramy Youssef also took to Instagram to share his heartfelt thoughts as he shared images of Palestinian and Israeli artists and creators he’s worked with.
“These are some of the most beautiful artists I know. I’m scared for them, and I always have been... I am horrified at what has happened to Palestinian lives. I am horrified at what has happened to Israeli lives. I have spent so much of my adult life praying for everyone in the region. Praying for my PTSD-filled Muslim and Jewish sisters and brothers around the world – as well as Christians there and beyond,” he wrote.
Youssef also called for an end to the violence in Gaza. “There are hostages and dead bodies, and Gaza is on the brink of being destroyed... These are civilians with no recourse and nowhere to go.
“A million people are being asked to evacuate to nowhere. The people of Gaza do not deserve to pay the price for our failings. If Gaza is erased, history will see we stood by; that we failed to find our humanity,” he continued.
British comedian and political commentator John Oliver took a moment on his Last Week Tonight cold open to also address the humanitarian crisis.
“I don’t know where things stand in Gaza as you watch this right now, but all signs seem to be pointing toward a humanitarian catastrophe,” Oliver said.
He directed his anger toward “the zealots and extremists across the board who’ve consistently thwarted attempts at peace over the years. Israelis and Palestinians have been let down by their leadership time and time again, and I don’t have a great deal of faith in the leaders currently in charge to steer us toward peace.”
US singer-songwriter Kehlani also spoke at a pro-Palestine rally held in downtown
Los Angeles on Saturday, where she said there was nothing complicated about taking a public stance on the matter. “I think it’s black and white, and you have a choice to see it or not... I want all my followers and peers to sit on the right side of history.”
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill – who posted a picture of the American and Israeli flags side by side, captioning the post, “America stands with Israel” — later took to Instagram to repost a comment by US-Dutch-Palestinian supermodel Gigi Hadid.
“My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict – too many of which are children,” wrote Hadid, whose father is Palestinian.
“I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it’s a responsibility I hold daily. I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person.”
(The Arab News/TNS)