Noah Schnapp Posts TikTok Addressing “Misconstrued” Beliefs About Israel-Gaza Conflict
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Noah Schnapp is addressing online criticism to social media that surfaced in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict, stating that he stands “against any killing of any innocent people” and has had “learned a lot” from “open discussions with friends from Palestinian background.”
The Stranger Things actor shared his statement in a TikTok posted Monday night, with Schnapp’s comments following online calls to boycott the final season of the Netflix hit — which started production just a week ago — over the content of social posts in the months since the ongoing conflict began.
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“I feel like my thoughts and beliefs have been so far misconstrued from anything even close to what I believe, and I wanted to just state from my heart how I feel,” the actor said. “I only want peace and safety and security for all innocent people affected by this conflict.”
“I think anyone with any ounce of humanity would hope for an end to the hostility on both sides. I stand against any killing of any innocent people, and I hope you guys all do, too,” the actor said at another point in the nearly two-minute video. “And I just hope to one day see those two groups be able to live harmoniously together in that region.”
Criticism of Schapp grew in November, after a video featuring the actor alongside others smiling and showing off “Hamas is Isis” and “Zionism is sexy” stickers made the rounds on various platforms, including X.
That same month, online social media users allege he liked an Instagram video clip from the Israel TV show What a Wonderful Country, attempting to satirize the antisemitism and Islamophobia allegations that have swept across higher education, resulting in federal investigations at school’s like Columbia University.
During the TikTok, Schnapp noted that since the Oct. 7 attack in Israel by militant group Hamas, he’s “had many open discussions with friends from Palestinian background, and I think those are very important conversations to have, and I’ve learned a lot.”
“One of the takeaways I’ve had is that we all hope for the same things, that being those innocent people still being held hostage in Gaza to be returned to their families, and equally hope for an end to the loss of innocent life in Palestine — so many of those people being women and children, and it’s horrible to see.”
Schnapp ended his message expressing his hope in 2024 to see people online “be a little more understanding and compassionate.”
“We are all human, and we’re all the same, and we should all love each other for that and support each other and stand together,” he said.
Following the initial Oct. 7 attack, which has spurred screenings of footage from the day and a documentary about Hamas’ attack on the Supernova Music Festival, Schnapp like others in Hollywood shared an initial statement in reaction to the killing of Israelis. In a since-deleted post, he wrote that “As a Jewish American, I am afraid,” pointing to “my brothers and sisters in Israel, who have been senselessly attacked by Hamas.”
“I am truly heartbroken to see the brutal murders of innocent children, women and soldiers fighting to defend themselves,” he continued. “I, like others, want peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. Let’s stop the rhetoric and choosing sides. Instead, we must recognize that we are all on the side of the fight against terrorism. Choose humanity over violence.”
The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas resulted in more than 200 hostages being taken and around 1,200 total deaths, according to Israeli officials in November, Reuters reported. In response, Israel launched retaliatory attacks that have since seen more than 24,000 dead and over 60,000 injured, per Gaza’s Health Ministry, the Associated Press reported. In December, during a negotiated pause in fighting, around 50 hostages were released — a move that has been supported by a number of Hollywood open letters and statements.
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