In a strong show of Hollywood support for Israel, more than 700 entertainment figures have signed an open letter condemning Hamas and calling for the safe return of hostages held in Gaza.
The letter is the entertainment industry’s first major move since Israel was attacked.
The letter, published by the nonprofit Creative Community for Peace, was signed by celebrities and Hollywood notables including Gal Gadot, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer, Michael Douglas, Jerry Seinfeld, Debra Messing and Ryan Murphy , Greg Berlanti, Haim Saban, Irving Azoff, Ynon Kreiz, Mark Hamill, Howie Mandel, Bella Thorne, Antoine Fuqua and more.
The open letter calls on the entire entertainment community to speak out forcefully against Hamas, support Israel, stop spreading misinformation about the war, and do everything in their power to pressure Hamas terrorists to return hostages to their families.
The letter comes at a time when Israel was under attack. On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise ambush, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza, brutally killing civilians in their homes and carrying out a massacre at a pro-peace music festival where 260 bodies were found. In Israel, at least 1,200 people have died and more than 100 civilians have been kidnapped and held hostage. Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews died in a single day. President Joe Biden has condemned Hamas as a terrorist organization and expressed full support for Israel as it now carries out retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip, where at least 1,100 people have died.
Creative Community for Peace notes that “in addition to the over 1,200 Israelis murdered, citizens from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, Thailand, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Germany, the Philippines, Chile, Brazil, Italy, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Ireland have been identified as either missing or killed.”
In a statement, Gadot said: “My heart aches for the lives lost and the families devastated. I pray for all those affected by Hamas’ terrorism and brutality. And I hope that the world continues to steadfastly support the people of Israel.”
Saban said: “After the barbaric murder of more than 1,200 Israelis, we in the Hollywood community and around the world must stand with Israel as it defends itself against a terrorist regime in Gaza that seeks Israel’s destruction.”
Notable signees include Bryan Lourd, Richard Lovett, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Jody Gerson, Ziggy Marley, Jenji Kohan, Zachary Levi, Jim Berkus, Andy Garcia, Tracey-Ann Oberman, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Howie Mandel, Eli Roth, Ryan Kavanaugh, Phil Rosenthal, George Lopez, Mekhi Phifer, Jason Alexander, Fred Savage, Ynon Kreiz, Dana Goldberg, Gail Berman, Steve Schnur, Sherry Lansing, Rick Rosen, Josh Greenstein, Rick Yorn, Kevin Yorn, Ben Silverman; Nina Tassler, Jeremy Piven, John Peck, Daniel Glass, Noa Tishby, Marty Singer, Chuck Liddell, Diane Warren and more. (Click here for the full list of signatories.)
In a separate letter released Thursday by the National Council of Jewish Women, other celebrities expressed support for Israel and called for the immediate return of the hostages from Hamas. Those signees include Gadot, Messing, Schumer, Montana Tucker and Mandy Moore. “We call on all governments, international organizations and civil society groups to condemn these crimes and take action to help secure the release of the hostages,” the letter said. “We call on the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others to do everything in their power to provide urgently needed assistance to the hostages.”
Read the full open letter from the Creative Community for Peace below:
The nightmare that Israelis had feared for decades became a reality as Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israeli cities and towns.
Under the cover of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately at civilians, Hamas murdered and kidnapped innocent men, women and children. They kidnapped and murdered small children and elderly people. They raped women and mutilated their bodies. They paraded their bodies through the streets and on social media and cowardly attacked the Supernova Music Festival – bringing death and destruction to an event that celebrated friendship and love.
This is terrorism. That’s evil. There is no justification or rationalization for Hamas’ actions. These are barbaric acts of terrorism that must be denounced by everyone. They are a terrorist organization whose leaders call for the murder of Jews everywhere.
CCFP calls on our friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry to speak out forcefully against Hamas and do everything in their power to urge the terrorist organization to return the innocent hostages to their families.
As Israel takes the necessary steps to defend its citizens in the coming days and weeks, social media is being flooded by an orchestrated misinformation campaign led by Iran. We urge everyone to remember the terrible images that came out of Israel and not to amplify their propaganda or fall for it.
Our thoughts are with everyone who is experiencing unimaginable levels of fear and violence, and we hope for the day when Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.