Dawn French ‘dismisses' Oct 7 Hamas attacks
Dawn French has been accused of dismissing the Oct 7 Hamas attacks in Israel in a new social media video.
The British comedian and actress, 67, posted a video of herself to X in which she appears to mimic Israel's supporters amid the military campaign in Gaza.
In the video, published by French on the social media platform on Thursday, she says about the conflict in the Middle East: 'Complicated, no, but nuanced. But [the] bottom line is no.'
She then goes on to mimic apparent defences of Israel's military campaign in neighbouring Gaza since the Hamas-led massacre in 2023, saying: ''Yeah but you know they did a bad thing to us'... Yeah, but no.
''But we want that land and there's a lot of history…'. No. 'These people are not even people, are they really?' No.'
In response to the viral tweet, which has been viewed more than half a million times in the 24 hours since it was published, Tracy-Ann Oberman, the West End star and playwright, branded French's tone as 'mocking'.
I am so saddened by this post . This mocking voice 'bad thing' of October 7 that Dawn ( who I revere by the way) appears ro be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack involving rape sexual violence burning alive child mutilation and taking of civilian hostages .… https://t.co/k0N0a3fHjy
— Tracy-Ann Oberman (@TracyAnnO) June 6, 2025
The Jewish actress, 58, reposted French's video and said: 'I am so saddened by this post.
'This mocking voice 'bad thing' of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears to be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack involving rape, sexual violence, burning alive child, mutilation and the taking of civilian hostages.'
She added: 'Why would Dawn seem to deny that which has affected so many of us personally in the most painful way possible.
'I can mourn the horrors of the war in Gaza whilst also remembering the horrors of what started it. Is this how most of our industry feels now – Oct 7 was a 'little thing'? NO!'
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's massacre on Oct 7 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed by the terror group and 251 others were taken hostage.
There are now 56 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Israel said its expanded offensive in the Strip, named Operation Gideon's Chariot, will increase the chances of returning the missing.
'Wow, this is really bad'
The Hamas-run health ministry that operates in Gaza has said that at least 54,000 people have been killed in the territory during the war.
Hamas has rejected proposed ceasefire and hostage release deals that do not guarantee a full Israel withdrawal from the Strip and an end to the war.
Other responses to French's post include the financier Ben Goldsmith, who has been a strong defender of Israel's response to the Hamas terrorist attacks.
He remarked: 'Wow, this is really bad. Who knew.'
Elsewhere, comedy writer and self-described 'champion of Jewish rights' Lee Kern wrote: 'What you sneeringly mock as a 'bad thing' included the grieving children I met in hospital whose friends and family had been murdered, kidnapped and raped and who themselves were coming to terms with their own life-altering injuries.
'It also includes the 1,200 people murdered and tortured on October 7th… you proactively broadcast – with misplaced pride – a wicked glee in your mockery and dismissal of Jewish suffering, pain and death.'
In a subsequent post following the criticism by Oberman, French clarified that she did not mean to 'support the atrocities of Oct 7th'.
Writing on X, she said: 'I do not say 'a little thing'. In NO WAY do I support the atrocities of Oct 7th. Of course not. Appalling. Horrific.
'But starving innocent children is not the answer. NO is the answer to ALL of it, Tracy.'
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