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)
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