The Stars Take Sides: Celebrity Reactions to the Israel-Palestine Crisis
The festering crisis between Israel and Palestine has once again erupted into deadly violence, and Hollywood’s brightest stars are making their allegiances known. While some have voiced support for Israel’s military retaliation against Hamas, others are calling out the Israeli government for war crimes against Palestinians.
Supermodel sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid, who are half-Palestinian, have been vocal critics of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. The terrorizing of innocent people is not in alignment and does not do any good for the ‘Free Palestine’ movement,” wrote Gigi Hadid on Instagram last week, prompting a scathing response from Israeli officials accusing her of ignoring Hamas’ attacks on Jewish people.
Meanwhile, actors like Mark Ruffalo and Angelina Jolie have provoked controversy by accusing Israel of apartheid and genocide. “It’s time to sanction the new hard right-wing government of Netanyahu,” tweeted Ruffalo, known for his role as the Hulk. The criticism prompted a disappointed response from Jolie’s own father Jon Voight. “This is war. It can’t be civil now,” Voight said in a video defending Israel’s military campaign.
Other stars have firmly allied themselves with Israel, including Gal Gadot, who served in the Israeli army before becoming Wonder Woman. “I stand with Israel, you should too,” wrote Gadot, sharing photos of Hamas’ hostages and urging her followers to “wake up” in support of retaliation.
The polarized reactions highlight how the crisis has divided Hollywood along political lines. With tensions spiraling on both sides, the stars’ calls for peace and justice have done little to quell the violence. Their impassioned pleas on social media underlie the complexity of a conflict where both Israeli and Palestinian lives remain at risk.
As the bombs continue to fall, the voices of Hollywood royalty have only amplified the thorny debate around solutions to a crisis with no end in sight.
