Israel-Born Actor Gal Gadot, Who Praised Netanyahu, Calls For Gaza Ceasefire
Gadot, long known for her public support of the Israeli military and Netanyahu, appeared to shift tone by expressing hope for peace
Israeli actor Gal Gadot on Thursday called for an end to the war in Gaza during her appearance at the opening night of the Jerusalem Film Festival, where she received a special award.
The 'Wonder Woman" star, long known for her public support of the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appeared to shift tone by expressing hope for peace.
'I'm praying for this (Gaza) war to end and for everyone here to finally have calm and security," Gadot said during her speech. 'That will not be possible until the hostages come home."
The 40-year-old actor, born in Petah Tikva near Tel Aviv, has faced heavy criticism from pro-Palestinian groups for backing the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), which have been accused of committing atrocities during their military operation in Gaza.
At the same time, right-wing Israeli media have attacked her more recently for urging a ceasefire, which runs counter to the government's stated goal of continuing the war until Hamas is fully defeated.
Despite the regional tensions, organisers pushed ahead with the 42nd edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival, which had been under threat due to Israel's brief war with Iran in June. Festival director Roni Mahadav-Levin said, 'We spent two weeks in bomb shelters trying to decide if we could keep the date of the festival," as many international guests cancelled or delayed travel.
The ongoing Gaza war has cast a shadow over the event. 'It's taking place under a cloud," said film student Ayal Sgerski, 29, who noted the festival is struggling to attract global films this year due to widespread opposition to Israel's military campaign.
The event opened with a screening of Sentimental Value by Norwegian director Joachim Trier, who won an award at Cannes this year.
The Gaza war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Israel's military response has since killed at least 58,667 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry — the majority of them civilians. The Israeli military maintains that it does not intentionally target non-combatants.
(With inputs from AFP)
view comments
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
25 minutes ago
- First Post
Gaza receives emergency food drops from Jordan, UAE, and Israel as UN warns of mass starvation
Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday as Israel launched a limited 'tactical pause' in military operations to address a worsening hunger crisis. The UN has warned of famine-like conditions affecting hundreds of thousands. read more Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday, as Israel began a limited 'tactical pause' in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. The Israeli military said it had also begun airdropping food into the Palestinian territory – making one drop of seven palettes – while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected what he characterised as UN 'lies' that his government was to blame for the dire humanitarian situation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The army also dismissed allegations that it had been using starvation as a weapon, saying it had coordinated with the UN and international agencies to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip'. UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the tactical pauses, saying he was in 'contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window'. But the UN's World Food Programme said a third of the population of Gaza had not eaten for days, and 470,000 people were 'enduring famine-like conditions' that were already leading to deaths. The Israeli decision came as international pressure mounted on Netanyahu's government to head off the risk of mass starvation in the territory. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus of concern on Sunday, urging Netanyahu 'to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now.' Accusing the UN of fabricating 'pretexts and lies about Israel' blocking aid, Netanyahu said in remarks at an airbase that 'there are secure routes' for aid. 'There have always been, but today it's official. There will be no more excuses,' he added. Since Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entering Gaza on March 2, the situation inside the territory has deteriorated sharply. More than 100 NGOs warned this week of 'mass starvation'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Though aid has trickled back in since late May, the UN and humanitarian agencies say Israeli restrictions remain excessive and road access inside Gaza is tightly controlled. 'Life's wish' The Jordanian military said its planes, working with the United Arab Emirates, had delivered 25 tonnes of aid in three parachute drops over Gaza on Sunday. Truckloads of flour were also seen arriving in northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists. The charity Oxfam's regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi called Israel's latest moves a 'welcome first step' but warned they could prove insufficient. 'Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops,' she said. 'What's needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza. 'We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege.' In general, humanitarian officials are deeply sceptical airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her 'life's wish' was to simply feed her children. She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from aid points daily. Chaotic scenes broke out at the site where Israel conducted its first food drop, witnesses told AFP. Samih Humeid, a 23-year-old from the Al-Karama neighbourhood of Gaza City, said dozens of people had gathered to rush towards the palettes of supplies parachuted onto the area. 'It felt like a war, everyone trying to grab whatever they could. Hunger is merciless. The quantities were extremely limited, not enough even for a few people, because hunger is everywhere. I only managed to get three cans of fava beans,' he said. In a social media post, the Israeli military announced it had 'carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip'. AFP journalists saw Egyptian trucks crossing from Rafah, with cargo routed through Israel's Kerem Shalom checkpoint for inspection before entering Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Israeli army's daily pause from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm will be limited to areas where its troops are not currently operating – Al-Mawasi in the south, central Deir el-Balah and Gaza City in the north. Israel said 'designated secure routes' would also open across Gaza for aid convoys carrying food and medicine. The military said the measures should disprove 'the false claim of deliberate starvation'. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing 'reasonable grounds' to suspect war crimes including starvation – charges Israel vehemently denies. Activists intercepted On Sunday, according to the Gaza civil defence agency, Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties. Separately, the Israeli navy brought an activist boat, the Handala operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, into the part of Ashdod, after intercepting and boarding it late Saturday to prevent it attempting to breach a maritime blockade of Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The legal rights centre Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod and had met with 19 of the 21 detained activists and journalists from 10 countries. The other two detainees, dual US-Israeli nationals, had been transferred to Israeli police custody, the group said. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Economic Times
29 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Jaya Bachchan once said she would have 'slapped' Shah Rukh Khan after Aishwarya Rai fallout
Jaya Bachchan Once Expressed Anger at Shah Rukh Khan After Rift With Aishwarya Rai Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, two of Indian cinema's most celebrated figures, delivered memorable performances together in films like Josh, Mohabbatein, and Devdas. Their on-screen pairing was a favourite among audiences, but their off-screen equation took a drastic turn in the early 2000s. Despite their successful collaborations, a professional rift led to Aishwarya being removed from multiple films they were initially set to do together. According to reports cited by News18 and others, the reasons for this fallout were never clearly stated. Aishwarya herself later confirmed that she was dropped from several projects that originally featured Shah Rukh Khan, including Chalte Chalte and Veer Zaara. These sudden exclusions had a noticeable impact on her career at the time. While Shah Rukh later apologised, the rapport between them was never fully restored. The fallout between Shah Rukh and Aishwarya didn't just remain a professional matter. It drew the attention of Aishwarya's family as well, particularly her mother-in-law, Jaya Bachchan, who had always shared a warm rapport with Shah Rukh. In a 2008 interview with People magazine, Jaya was asked if she still held any resentment toward Shah Rukh over what happened. She admitted she did, and said that although she hadn't yet spoken to him about it, she intended to. She added that had he been at her home at the time, she would have slapped him — just as she would have done if it had been her own son. Despite the anger, she also made it clear that she felt a deep emotional bond with Shah Rukh and admitted to having a personal fondness for him. The strain in their relationship was also evident during Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan's wedding in 2007, where Shah Rukh was noticeably absent. At the time, it was reported that the two actors were still not on speaking terms following the Chalte Chalte controversy. As per News18, Jaya Bachchan addressed this directly, pointing out that if it had been possible to invite Shah Rukh without upsetting family dynamics, the wedding date itself would have been changed. Though the fallout left visible cracks, the passage of time brought some healing. Shah Rukh's apology, along with a gradual softening of tensions, helped bridge the distance.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Tamannaah Bhatia Turns Heads In A Sexy Slit Gown At Manish Malhotra's Glam Night
Tamannaah Bhatia stuns in a sexy golden gown at Manish Malhotra's INAYA party. Her elegant yet bold look has fans swooning. See her glamorous Instagram pics! Tamannaah Bhatia lit up Instagram with a series of breathtaking images from Manish Malhotra's couture party, where she made a stunning appearance in a flowing golden-yellow gown from the designer's latest collection INAYA. The actor's radiant look, paired with her heartfelt caption, quickly caught the attention of fans and fashion enthusiasts alike. In the pictures, the Lust Stories 2 star exudes classic elegance in an off-shoulder gown adorned with intricate silver embellishments on the straps. The pleated fabric of the dress, paired with a thigh-high slit, brought together a look that was both ethereal and bold. With dewy makeup, pink-hued eyeshadow, glossy lips, and soft waves cascading over her shoulders, Tamannaah perfectly embodied the spirit of modern glamour. Sharing glimpses of her glamorous night, Tamannaah captioned the post: '@manishmalhotra05 your glam is a feeling, and so was the couture party. What a spectacular night 💛 INAYA is pure poetry, no one does glamour like you." On the work front, Tamannaah Bhatia was last seen in the Telugu supernatural thriller titled Odela 2. Directed by Ashok Teja, the film stars Hebah Patel and Vasishta N. Simha alongside Tamannaah Bhatia in the lead roles. A sequel to Odela Railway Station, Odela 2 portrayed how Odela Mallanna Swamy protected the village from evil forces. Tamannaah played the character of Bhairavi in the film. Besides this, she also performed a special song titled Nasha in Ajay Devgn's Raid 2. Tamannaah is all set to appear alongside Diana Penty in the upcoming Amazon Prime web series titled Daring Partners. Besides the two actresses, the series also stars Jaaved Jaaferi and Nakkul Mehta. The exact release date of the series has not been announced yet. Additionally, Tamannaah will also be seen as the female lead in the adventure film Ranger, alongside Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt. The film will present Ajay Devgn as a forest ranger and Sanjay Dutt as the antagonist. Directed by Jagan Shakti, the film is expected to be released in 2026. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
