Gal Gadot calls for ‘vicious cycle’ of Israeli-Hamas violence to stop: ‘I worry for my family’

Gal Gadot has shared her ‘heartbreak’ over the mounting Israeli-Hamas violence and admits she’s ‘worried for her family’. 

The Wonder Woman actress, who was born in Israel, has joined a growing number of celebrities such as Gigi and Bella Hadid to speak out about the airstrikes, which have left at least 35 Palestinians dead. 

In a social media post, Gal wrote: ‘My Heart breaks. My country is at war. I worry for my family, my friends. I worry for my people. 

‘This is a viscous cycle that has been going on far too long. Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation, our neighbours deserve the same.’ 

She added: ‘I pray for the victims and their families, I pray for this unimaginable hostility to end, I pray for our leaders to find the solution so we could live side by side in peace. 

‘I pray for better days.’ 

Gal, 36, has previously opened up about her childhood growing up in Israel and being enlisted into the army. She told Forward.com in 2011: ‘My parents are sabras. I was born in Tel Aviv and had a normal life until I was 18, just before I was scheduled to go into the army, when I won the [2004] Miss Israel pageant.

‘That was my entrance into the modeling world. I rescheduled my army time and started working as a model [for three years]. Then I went into the army and served as a [fitness] instructor, and when I was released, I was fortunate enough that my first picture was Fast & Furious.’

Hostilities between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that runs Gaza, escalated with each side launching a series of aerial bombardments in some of the region’s worst violence since the last major conflict in 2014.

In the wake of the violence, Gigi and Hadid, whose father Mohamed is Palestinian, took to social media to stand with the people of Palestine and explain the situation to their followers.

Bella, 24, shared an infographic explaining the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and wrote: ‘There is no place for this !!! Especially in 2021!!!! it has always been #freepalestine . always. I have a lot to say about this but for now , please read and educate yourself. This is not about religion. This is not about spewing hate on one or the other. 

‘This is about Israeli colonization , ethnic cleansing , military occupation and apartheid over the Palestinian people that has been going on for years!’ 

She added: ‘I stand with my Palestinian brothers and sisters , I will protect and support you as best as I can. I love you.’ 

Gigi, 26, posted another graphic which read: ‘One cannot advocate for racial equality, LGBT & women’s rights, condemn corrupt & abusive regimes and other injustices yet choose to ignore the Palestinian oppression. It does not add up. 

‘You cannot pick & choose whose human rights matter more.’

The model also shared a photo of her dad Mohamed’s passport with the caption: ‘Place of birth: Palestine.’ 

The violence has escalated following demonstrations in Jerusalem, where 300 Palestinians were injured in a police raid on the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, one of the holiest sites in Islam.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that militants will ‘pay a very heavy price’ for the rockets which reached Jerusalem, while the United Nations’ Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland has called for de-escalation. 

He tweeted: ‘Stop the fire immediately. We’re escalating towards a full scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take the responsibility of de-escalation. 

‘The cost of war in Gaza is devastating & is being paid by ordinary people. UN is working w/ all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now.’

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