“Split by Gunfire: How Hollywood is Divided by the Israel-Hamas War

The long-running conflict between Israel and Hamas has generated both attention and passionate debate worldwide. In Hollywood, the narrative is no different, as the entertainment industry’s most powerful figures have been divided in their views and reactions to the violence. In fact, the conflict has even begun to affect the choices of major studios and actors. The recent Gaza conflict began on May 10, 2021, after days of Israeli police clashing with Palestinian protesters in East Jerusalem. Since then, the rocket fire from Gaza and airstrikes from Israel have been relentless, with each side exerting heavy civilian casualties. The US-brokered ceasefire announced on May 22, 2021 brought some respite, but the deaths, displacement, and destruction remains substantial. Both sides of the conflict have been vocal in their support for their respective positions. Some of Hollywood’s biggest figures have publicly spoken out in support of Israel, such as Friends actor Jennifer Aniston, Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland, and director Steven Spielberg. On the other hand, other stars, such as America Ferrera, Selena Gomez, and Gal Gadot, have expressed sympathy and support for Palestine. Apart from expressing their views in social media posts, celebrities have also taken concrete steps to show their solidarity. For example, singer Nicki Minaj announced her intention to donate $50,000 to both the Palestinian and Israeli sides of the conflict. In addition, actors Mark Ruffalo and Jason Momoa have raised funds for charity organizations like Gaza Sky Geeks and the Gaza Mental Health Program. Unfortunately, some filmmakers have felt the need to boycott Israel due to their backing of the country’s policies. Major production companies, such as Paramount Pictures and Netflix, have decided to pull projects from their slate that were set to film in Israel. Furthermore, some Hollywood actors have reportedly been dropped by agents for their publicly expressed anti-Israel views. The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has caused strong reactions in Hollywood. While some celebrities have chosen to take a neutral stance, others have gone a step further and put their money to support those affected by the war. On the other hand, some studios and actors have been put in a difficult position due to their involving projects in Israel, leading to boycotts and difficult decisions. As the conflict continues to rage on, it remains to be seen whether Hollywood’s divisions over the war will continue to linger. The long-running conflict between Israel and Hamas has generated both attention and passionate debate worldwide. In Hollywood, the narrative is no different, as the entertainment industry’s most powerful figures have been divided in their views and reactions to the violence. In fact, the conflict has even begun to affect the choices of major studios and actors. The recent Gaza conflict began on May 10, 2021, after days of Israeli police clashing with Palestinian protesters in East Jerusalem. Since then, the rocket fire from Gaza and airstrikes from Israel have been relentless, with each side exerting heavy civilian casualties. The US-brokered ceasefire announced on May 22, 2021 brought some respite, but the deaths, displacement, and destruction remains substantial. Both sides of the conflict have been vocal in their support for their respective positions. Some of Hollywood’s biggest figures have publicly spoken out in support of Israel, such as Friends actor Jennifer Aniston, Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland, and director Steven Spielberg. On the other hand, other stars, such as America Ferrera, Selena Gomez, and Gal Gadot, have expressed sympathy and support for Palestine. Apart from expressing their views in social media posts, celebrities have also taken concrete steps to show their solidarity. For example, singer Nicki Minaj announced her intention to donate $50,000 to both the Palestinian and Israeli sides of the conflict. In addition, actors Mark Ruffalo and Jason Momoa have raised funds for charity organizations like Gaza Sky Geeks and the Gaza Mental Health Program. Unfortunately, some filmmakers have felt the need to boycott Israel due to their backing of the country’s policies. Major production companies, such as Paramount Pictures and Netflix, have decided to pull projects from their slate that were set to film in Israel. Furthermore, some Hollywood actors have reportedly been dropped by agents for their publicly expressed anti-Israel views. The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has caused strong reactions in Hollywood. While some celebrities have chosen to take a neutral stance, others have gone a step further and put their money to support those affected by the war. On the other hand, some studios and actors have been put in a difficult position due to their involving projects in Israel, leading to boycotts and difficult decisions. As the conflict continues to rage on, it remains to be seen whether Hollywood’s divisions over the war will continue to linger.