MOVIE NEWS – More than 700 entertainment industry personalities have signed an open letter condemning Hamas and demanding the safe return of hostages held in Gaza. The letter is the first significant step by the entertainment industry as Israel comes under attack.

The letter, published by the non-profit organisation Creative Community for Peace, was signed by celebrities and Hollywood executives such as Gal Gadot, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer, Michael Douglas, Jerry Seinfeld, Debra Messing, Ryan Murphy, Greg Berlanti, Haim Saban, Irving Azoff, Ynon Kreiz, Mark Hamill, Howie Mandel, Bella Thorne, Antoine Fuqua and others.

The open letter calls on the entertainment community to take a strong stand against Hamas, to support Israel, to refrain from sharing misinformation about the war, and to do everything in their power to call on Hamas terrorists to return the hostages to their families.

The letter comes at a time when Israel is under attack. On 7 October, Hamas launched a surprise attack, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza, brutally killing civilians in their homes and massacring 260 bodies at a pro-peace music festival. At least 1200 people have been killed in Israel 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 organisation and pledged his unwavering support for Israel, which is now carrying out retaliatory action in Gaza, where at least 1,100 people have been killed.

The Creative Community for Peace notes that “in addition to the more than 1,200 Israelis killed, citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Thailand, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Germany, the Philippines, Chile, Brazil, Italy, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Ireland are missing or dead.”

Gadot said in a statement,

“My heart is aching for the lives lost and families shattered. I’m praying for everyone who has been affected by Hamas’ terrorism and brutality. And I hope that the world remains steadfast in their support of the Israeli people.”

Saban said, “In the wake of 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 the terrorist regime in Gaza that seeks to destroy Israel.”

Among the notable signatories are 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 Kavana 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 others. (Click here for a full list of signatories.)

In a separate letter released Thursday by the National Council of Jewish Women, other celebrities voiced support for Israel and demanded the immediate return of Hamas hostages. Among the signatories are 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 steps to secure the release of the hostages,” the letter reads. “We urge the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others to do everything in their power to ensure that the hostages receive much needed assistance.”

The Creative Community for Peace’s full open letter can be read below:

“The nightmare that Israelis have feared for decades became a reality when Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israeli cities.

Hamas fired thousands of rockets indiscriminately at civilians, Hamas murdered and abducted innocent men, women and children. Babies and elderly people were abducted and murdered. They raped women and mutilated their bodies. Their bodies were displayed in the streets and on social media, and they cowardly attacked the Supernova music festival – bringing death and destruction to an event that celebrated friendship and love.

This is terrorism. This is evil. Hamas’s actions cannot be justified or rationalised. They are barbaric acts of terror that must be condemned by all. It is a terrorist organisation whose leaders call for the murder of Jews everywhere.

The CCFP calls on our friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry to take a strong stand against Hamas and do everything in their power to encourage the terrorist organisation to return innocent hostages to their families.

As Israel takes the necessary steps to protect its citizens in the days and weeks ahead, social media is awash with a concerted campaign of misinformation orchestrated by Iran. We urge everyone to remember the horrific images from Israel and not to amplify or fall for their propaganda.

Our thoughts are with all those who are experiencing unimaginable levels of fear and violence, and we hope that the day will come when Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.”

Source: Variety