"Silence Is Not An Option For Me": 21 Celebrities Who Have Called For A Ceasefire In Gaza
On Oct. 7, around 1,200 Israelis were reportedly killed in attacks by Hamas. Since then, over 30,000 people — mostly women and children — have reportedly been killed in Gaza in retaliatory attacks. Additionally, over 70,000 people have been wounded, with thousands more missing.
Here are 21 celebrities who have spoken out in support of Palestinians:
1.Hunter Schafer
This week, the actor was reportedly arrested while protesting with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a Jewish and anti-Zionist organization. The rally took place at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where President Biden appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers. Hunter was photographed in a "ceasefire now" shirt while she was escorted out by a NYPD officer. JVP also shared an image of the actor holding a banner reading, "The whole world is watching."
2.Khalid Abdalla
The actor has attended many events, including the Emmys, the Golden Globes, and premieres for The Crown, with words written on his palms to demand an end to the violence. At the Golden Globes, he also wore a dove pin. "The dove is made in Bethlehem," he explained on Twitter. "Today marks three months of unfathomable death and destruction. We need this to end. The first step must be a permanent ceasefire. #CeasefireNow."
Khalid is continually outspoken on social media, sharing articles, graphs, and updates. He has also joined the Medical Aid for Palestinians' Voices for Gaza fundraiser scheduled for this weekend.
3.Angelina Jolie
The actor worked with the UN to aid refugees around the world for over 20 years. She shared an Instagram post, writing, "What happened in Israel is an act of terror. But that cannot justify the innocent lives lost in bombing a civilian population in Gaza that has nowhere to go, no access to food or water, no possibility of evacuation and not even the basic human right to cross a border to seek refuge."
Angelina noted that the aid trucks bring just a fraction of what's needed and called the humanitarian crisis "desperate." She continued, "The denial of aid, fuel and water is collectively punishing a people. Humanity demands an immediate ceasefire. Palestinian and Israeli lives — and the lives of all people globally — matter equally."
4.Pedro Pascal
On Christmas Day of last year, the actor posted an Instagram picture of a sign reading, "Ceasefire now." In the caption, he wrote, "Donate today 🙏. Link in bio. @doctorswithoutborders." In his IG stories, he has shared links for donations several times.
5.Gigi Hadid
The model, whose father is Palestinian and fled the war with his family as a baby, has been outspoken on social media. In an Instagram post, she said, "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 terrorizing of innocent people is not in alignment with and does not do any good for the 'Free Palestine' movement... There are a lot of complex, personal, and valid feelings, but every human deserves basic rights, treatment, and security; no matter their nationality, religion, ethnicity, or where they were born."
She also shared a graphic that read: "There is nothing Jewish about the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians. Condemning the Israeli government is not antisemitic and supporting Palestinians is not supporting Hamas." On the State of Israel's official Instagram page, the government called out the model for this statement, resulting in Gigi and her family being bombarded with death threats.
6.Jesse Williams
On Instagram, the actor shared Artists4Ceasefire images, one of which reading "We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. History is watching." In the caption, Jesse wrote, "Killing civilians is killing civilians is killing civilians. Whether you know them or not. A child is a child whether yours or mine, and they have nothing to do with this. No amount of anger changes that. This, my friends, is a test."
7.Lena Headey
On Instagram, the actor has made multiple posts addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In one, she wrote, "Enough. Enough trauma. Enough dead children. #ceasefirenow🇵🇸."
In another post, she shared a graphic with the words "1.5 million people in Rafah" and "There is nowhere safe to go." In the caption, Lena wrote, "People of Palestine. We see you.. We do, you’re not forgotten. My heart fkin breaks #permanentceasefirenow #stopthegenocideingaza🇵🇸."
8.Indya Moore
Last year, the actor was one of over 300 protestors arrested at a pro-Palestinian rally organized by Jewish Voices for Peace. On Instagram, they wrote, "We screamed stomped, cried, resisted, all the way through to jail. (We are now free and safe) there was no moment of discomfort or exhaustion that comes near the disheartening and terrifying experiences that of the Gazans. We chanted and demanded freedom, reparations and justice for Palestinians... Palestine! We love you! and most importantly please know you have so many people - gay, straight, transsexual, white black, brown, indigenous, Israeli and Jewish people who see what is happening and who are grieving with you & rising standing and fighting for you."
Indya continually posts about Gaza on social media and spoke at a protest outside the Sundance Festival earlier this year. They told the crowd, "If you care about life, if you care about dignity, if you care about freedom, you care about the self-determination of everybody. This is about life. That’s why I’m here. I’m trans, right? It’s about love. Free Palestine is about equality for everybody."
9.Bella Hadid
For years, the model has been outspoken about her support for Palestine. In an Instagram post, she wrote, "My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood. Seeing the aftermath from the airstrikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends that will never again walk this earth."
She said she also mourns with those who lost their lives on October 7 and condemns violence against both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.
Bella shared the story of her father, who was born in Nazareth in 1948 — the year of the Nakba (when 750,000 Palestinians were displaced). "Nine days after he was born, he, in his mothers arms, along with his family were expelled from their home of Palestine, becoming refugees, away from a place they once called home. My grandparents, never being allowed to return. My family witnessed 75 years of violence against Palestinian people — most notably, brutal settler invasions which led to the destruction of entire communities, murder in cold blood and the forcible removal of families from their homes. The practice of settlements on Palestinian land still continues to this day. The pain of that is unimaginable."
10.Susan Sarandon
In November, the actor attended several pro-Palestinian rallies. She encouraged fellow protestors to "be strong, be patient, be clear, and stand with anybody who has the courage to speak out" and thanked "the Jewish community who’s come out to have our backs."
She also drew criticism for saying, "There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country." She was swiftly dropped by her talent agency, UTA.
Susan posted an apology on Instagram, explaining that her intention was to "highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for a ceasefire." She said her "phrasing was a terrible mistake" and acknowledged the persecution that Jewish people have faced, both in Europe and in the US. "I will continue my commitment to peace, truth, justice, and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet with love and willingness to engage in dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree," she concluded.
11.Hozier
On social media, the musician has called for a ceasefire and the end to killings of civilians. At a recent music festival, he spoke to the crowd about the US vetoing a UN resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza. "I know that doesn't represent the love and compassion and the care and the empathy that I see from people day after day." Hozier, who is Irish, said he cannot vote in the US but hopes that his fans "feel enabled to contact your representatives, and let them know that doesn't represent you either."
12.Kehlani
In an Instagram story, the singer called out celebrities who are remaining silent. "What the fuck is wrong with y’all? You’re being silent for the sake of money and business like that amounts to what the fuck is going on. There’s an insane amount of unchecked privilege on literal fucking display. It is gut-wrenching; it is disgusting." She also criticized those who advised her to keep quiet for the sake of her career. "Do y’all hear yourselves? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror and been like, 'Am I a decent fucking human being?'"
At a pro-Palestinian rally in LA, she said, "I want all my followers and peers to sit on the right side of history. I want them to make a decision that is larger than them. I want them to make an unselfish one. I want them to make an obvious one. And I just hope they choose to do the right thing."
13.Melissa Barrera
After the actor shared pro-Palestinian social media posts using the terms "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing," she was fired from Scream VII. Production company Spyglass Media confirmed the decision was due to her posts, which were perceived as antisemitic.
She addressed the situation on her Instagram story, writing, "First and foremost I condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people. As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard... Every person on this earth…deserves equal human rights, dignity and, of course, freedom. I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism.
I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence. I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me."
14.Annie Lennox
During the In Memoriam segment of the Grammy Awards, the singer performed "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor. At the end, she exclaimed, "Artists for ceasefire! Peace in the world."
15.Mark Ruffalo
A few weeks ago, the actor attended the Directors Guild of America Awards with two pins on his jacket: peace lilies and Artists4Ceasefire. He said, "We’ve come to understand this bombing isn’t working, we’re not going to bomb our way to peace, and all we’re saying is, what’s wrong with giving a ceasefire a chance?"
Mark noted that more than a million refugees in Rafah live in fear of further bombing, and over half a million people are a step away from famine. "So we’re asking the leaders of the world, especially President Biden, to demand a ceasefire, a lasting ceasefire, and give peace a chance instead of just a continued bombing, the escalation of violence and what will soon become a regional war that America will be dragged into."
16.The Weeknd
The singer, who is a a UN World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador, donated $2.5 million to Gaza — the equivalent of 4 million emergency meals that could feed more than 173,000 Palestinians for two weeks. The money came from his XO Humanitarian Fund, which he established with World Food Program USA. The fund, which he personally supported with a $1.8 million donation, has raised $5 million to combat world hunger according to Variety.
17.Rachel Zegler
In an Instagram story, the actor urged her followers to take action. "Have you donated today?" she wrote. "Have you called your government leaders to put pressure on world leaders to call for a ceasefire? Your activism should go beyond your social media."
18.Amerie
The singer constantly posts her support for Palestine on social media, where she shares information, graphics, videos, and interviews she conducts. In an Instagram post, she wrote, "No child should be killed for any reason. Ever... There shouldn't be excuses of 'human shield' or 'collateral damage' or 'casualty of bombing' or any other sanitizing language. Collateral damage is another way of saying that that child's life was less important than your goal... Palestinian children and Israeli children are equally precious and innocent, and I just wish everyone realized this. Because once we reach the point where we are making excuses or concessions for killing kids, we have devolved as a civilization, and no one's children are safe."
19.Macklemore
The rapper has been outspoken on social media, at pro-Palestinian rallies, and at his concerts. In an Instagram post, he wrote, "I have been backstage at night before the shows, tears uncontrollably streaming down my face in absolute disbelief at how we as a country are supporting these murders with our weapons and financial backing... I stand with all humans. I stand for peace. I stand for love. I stand for freedom. And because of that, I stand for a Free Palestine and an end to the looming genocide of its people."
In another post, he wrote, "I wholeheartedly condemn anti-semitism in any form. I also am committed to using my voice in resistance to the genocide and ethnic cleansing that is currently taking place in Gaza."
20.Boygenius
At the Grammys, Boygenius (comprised of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker) wore pins stating "Artists4Ceasefire" — a collective of artists and advocates who came together in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
21.And finally, Kid Cudi
On Instagram, the singer shared a heartfelt response to all the suffering. "The things I’ve been seeing in the news have been breaking my heart," he wrote. "I can’t watch what’s happening in the world and remain silent. I can’t imagine the pain people are feeling. Seeing their entire neighborhoods bombed, losing generations of family members, parents crying over their children’s lifeless bodies, communities turning into mass graves, people digging through the rubble of their homes in hopes of finding remains of their loved ones – a pain no one should have to go through...I know some people are gonna disagree with me, but that’s ok. As a Black man, I stand against all forms of oppression."
He made it clear that he does not stand for violence against Jewish people, either. "And it goes without saying, I love my Jewish brothers and sisters and condemn any violence towards them. Your losses are unimaginable and you are all in my prayers...
But let’s be clear, supporting Palestinian liberation is not antisemitic, it’s human. Palestinians deserve their freedom. This isn’t politics, these are real lives. And I’m just a dude who gives a fuck about humanity. I stand with the people of Palestine as they demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the ongoing genocide. My heart goes out to all my brothers and sisters of all faiths and backgrounds who are suffering. Free Palestine!!"
