All the celebs supporting Palestine and all the celebs backing Israel-Rebecca Sayce and Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro

Celebrities have been outspoken about Palestine and Israel, particularly in recent weeks (Picture: Rex/Getty)

More celebrities than ever have spoken out on the war in Gaza, especially after the horrors in Rafah where civilians were massacred in airstrikes on May 26.

The ongoing crisis has prompted many celebrities to call for a ceasefire to de-escalate the situation, which was exacerbated after the October 7 attacks in Israel.

This caught widespread attention and famous faces like Justin Bieber and Jamie Lee Curtis were criticised for sharing images online spreading misinformation.

Many others faced backlash for remaining silent as industry heavyweights like Beyonce and Taylor Swift are increasingly pressured to speak out on the matter.

With the conflict coinciding with a rise in antisemitism, stars have stressed the importance of the difference between Israeli citizens and Jewish people – with being Jewish referring to a specific religion and ethnic group, and being Israeli means you have citizenship in the country of Israel.

As the violence continues, we look at the celebs who have spoken out in support of Palestine and those who have backed Israel.

Celebs who have spoken out in support of Palestine

Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid was one of the first stars to throw their support behind Palestine (Picture: Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic)

Bella Hadid, who has Palestinian heritage, has been a vocal supporter of Palestine for a number of years and spoke out following the October 7 attacks before many stars felt comfortable to.

She has shared a number of posts on social media about Palestine and Gaza, following a statement she released in October asking fans to ‘forgive her’ for her silence.

‘I’ve been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number has been leaked, and my family has felt to be in danger,’ she wrote. ‘But I can not be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave – they are.

‘My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood. Seeing the aftermath from the airstrikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends that will never again walk this earth.’

Bella wore a red keffiyeh-inspired dress at Cannes (Picture: Jacopo Raule/GC Images)

She condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks, and said she is mourning for the Israeli families in the ‘pain and aftermath.’

She continued: ‘I condemn the terrorist attacks on any civilians, anywhere,” she wrote. “I believe deep in my heart, that no child, no people anywhere, should be taken away from their family either temporarily or indefinitely. That goes for Israeli and Palestinian people alike.’

Bella shone a light on the ‘urgent humanitarian crisis’ in Gaza and highlighted the desperate need for food, water, and fuel in the region.

‘Wars have laws – and they must be upheld, no matter what. We need to keep pressure on our leaders, wherever we are, not to forget the urgent needs of the people of Gaza, and to ensure that innocent Palestinian civilians are not the forgotten casualties of this war,’ she ended the post.

During the Cannes Film Festival, she stepped out in a dress styled from a Palestinian Keffiyeh which has been widely considered a pro-Palestine symbol by activists.

Charlotte Church

Charlotte Church has performed at Palestinian rallies rto show her support (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images)

Charlotte Church has vocally supported Palestine and sang at Pro-Palestine rallies.

The singer faced criticism for leading the Côr Cochion choir in Caerphilly, South Wales, in a protest chant at the pro-Palestine concert, with footage online showing Church singing along to From the River to the Sea.

Appearing on Novarra Media’s YouTube channel on February 26, Church said that ‘everything feels so heightened and deeply emotional’ after the backlash.

She continued: ‘I hate the idea that anyone might think that I’m at all antisemitic or trying to make things more divisive but I stand by everything we sang.

‘It was really beautiful. It was such a beautiful event. It was so sweet. It was so humble. It was people and an intergenerational choir from all over the country.

‘It was a deeply spiritual experience for me and I would do it again 100 times.’

Church also recently announced she was pulling out of her performance at the annual Hay Festival, taking aim at the ‘hypocrisy’ of receiving sponsorship from a company with links to Israel and the fossil fuel industry.

CMAT

CMAT cited Latitude Festival’s ties to Israel as the reason she cancelled her appearance (Picture: REX)

Like Church, Irish singer CMAT was praised for pulling out of her performance at this year’s Latitude Festival over ties to Israel.

She wrote: ‘I am very sorry to announce that I am officially pulling out of playing the main stage of Latitude Festival 2024.

‘You may or may not be aware, but Latitude’s main sponsor is Barclay’s bank, who have been revealed to have increased their financing of various companies who are supplying weapons and military technology to Israel.’

‘Specifically it has invested over £100million into General Dynamics which provides gun systems to the fighter jets which are being used by Israel to bombard Gaza,’ CMAT claimed.

She continued: ‘I made Latitude aware of what my decision would be weeks ago, but was hoping that with all of the press surrounding the brave artists who pulled out of The Great Escape festival for the same reasons, that Latitude would divest from Barclay’s or find another sponsor.

‘This has not happened and it has been made clear to me that it will not happen. As such I am now officially pulling out.

‘I will not allow my precious work, my music, which I love so much, to get into bed with violence.

‘Myself, and the entire CMAT touring crew who I love so much, refuse to be complicit in genocide.’

Melissa Barrera

Melissa Barrera’s comments about Gaza saw her fired from Scream 7 (Picture: Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)

Scream star Melissa Barrera was fired from the franchise after comments she made in support of Palestine.

She reshared a post from another Instagram user, which said ‘If you’re wondering how the world watched when genocides and ethnic cleansings happened… this is how.’

In a post to her page last month, she said she came from a colonised country, posting a Mexican flag, and said ‘Palestine will be free.’

In another post written by herself, she wrote ‘Just like all Palestinians are NOT Hamas, All Jewish people are NOT the Israeli Govt. Do not blame, or hate on, a whole group of people because of what some are doing.’

The actor also said: ‘Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with nowhere to go, no electricity no water … People have learnt nothing from our histories.

‘And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.’

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie came to blows with her father over her views (Picture: James Devaney/GC Images)

Actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie faced criticism from her father Jon Voight after speaking out against the bombing of Gaza.

Sharing an image of the destruction on Instagram, she wrote: ‘This is the deliberate bombing of a trapped population who have nowhere to flee.

‘Gaza has been an open-air prison for nearly two decades and is fast becoming a mass grave. 40% of those killed are innocent children. Whole families are being murdered.

‘While the world watches and with the active support of many governments, millions of Palestinian civilians – children, women, families – are being collectively punished and dehumanized, all while being deprived food, medicine and humanitarian aid against international law.

‘By refusing to demand a humanitarian ceasefire and blocking the UN Security Council from imposing one on both parties, world leaders are complicit in these crimes.’

Voight, however, said he was ‘disappointed’ with his daughter’s comments, saying in a video: ‘I am very disappointed that my daughter, like so many, has no understanding of God’s honour, God’s truths.

‘This is about destroying the history of God’s land — the Holy Land — the land of the Jews. This is justice for God’s children of the holy land.

‘The Israeli army must protect thy soil, thy people. This is war. It’s not going to be what the left thinks — it can’t be civil now.’

Denouncing Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, Voight went on: ‘Israel was attacked by inhuman terror on innocent babies, mothers, fathers, grandparents. These animals want to wipe out Jews and Christians.’

Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo wore a pro-Palestinian pin badge to this year’s Oscars (Picture: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

Avengers star Mark Ruffalo has vocally supported Palestinian protests as well as condemning Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Speaking at this year’s Oscars after a Palestine protest meant to ceremony started late, he said: ‘The Palestinian protest shut down the Oscars tonight! Humanity wins!’

He also said that we ‘need peace’ at the event, and was pictured wearing a pro-Palestinian pin badge.

In November, he called for Netanyahu to ‘have some compassion’ after referring to Palestinian civilians as collateral damage.

He wrote on X: ‘No. Sorry. They are not “collateral damage” they are human beings who happen to have been born there and live there and most of those human beings are stuck there.

‘Have some compassion, they are Palestinians not buildings or roads or things, they are human beings and so are the hostages whose lives you may also be destroying. They aren’t “collateral damage” either.’

Celebrities who have spoken out in support of Israel

Debra Messing

Debra Messing has advocated for Jewish people during the war (Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

One of the most vocal supporters of Israel has been actress Debra Messing, 55, who is descended from Polish and Russian Jewish ancestors.

She has been actively speaking on social media, sharing a message to ‘Jewish college kids’ and focusing on antisemitism within education.

At a rally at the National Mall in D.C., Messing made a speech to the gathered crowd, stating: ‘We are strong, resilient and devoted, and we will not lose ourselves.’

‘We will worry for our global Jewish family and also hurt for the innocent Palestinians used as human shields by Hamas. We will work to eviscerate Hamas and also pray for a free and flourishing Gaza.’

In a post about the hostages held by Hamas, the Will and Grace star wrote: ’00 Days. We are fighting for you. We are praying for you.

‘We will not stop until you are free from those barbaric monsters. We love you.’

Amy Schumer

After initial backlash, Amy Schumer clarified her comments (Picture: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Comedian Amy Schumer sparked a huge backlash after sharing a comic which was meant to satirise comments made by American Pro-Palestine supporters.

In the image, which she has since deleted, signs read: ‘Gazans rape Jewish girls only in self-defence’ and ‘Proud of our rapist martyrs.’

This was criticised by actress Asia Jackson, to which the Trainwreck responded: ‘Did something I post about my people being massacred upset you?’

Schumer did clarify her stance later on after the Gaza situation escalated and stated she supports a ceasefire.

Speaking to Variety she explained that while she supports the Jewish people, she does not agree with Israel’s controversial Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

‘I don’t agree with anything that Netanyahu is doing, and neither do the Israelis I know,’ the I Feel Pretty actress said. ‘Of course what’s going on in Gaza is sickening, horrifying and unthinkable. And, I don’t think it’s OK to hate anyone because they were born Jewish.’

‘It’s gotten to this place,’ Schumer added, ‘where you can’t speak up for other Jews without people feeling like it’s a slight to the conditions in Gaza.’

Michael Rapaport

Michael Rapaport has spoken out at pro-Israel rallies (Picture: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)

Michael Rapaport spoke at a pro-Israel protest outside Columbia University in April, calling pro-Palestine supporters ‘bullies’.

‘If these people were screaming at any other group of people, this would be taken care of,’ Rapaport said of the Columbia anti-Israel protesters. ‘I’m wishing everybody a happy, happy, safe Passover.’

He asked for the release of hostages by Hamas, stating: ‘It’s embarrassing. But agenda number 1 is to free our hostages. Agenda number 1-A is to eradicate Hamas.’

The Atypical star then launched into an expletive-filled rant about Donald Trump getting back into the White House, stating he wouldn’t vote for him but the protestors would let him back in.

In January, he called out the silence from Hollywood and said: ‘All that billion-dollar Barbie feminism and all these young conscious actors and actresses, and there’s [the] hostages that are the exact same age as them.

‘And not one actor, not one director, not one producer, not one comedian. Nobody said anything before the Golden Globes, after the Golden Globes [or] during the Golden Globes.’

He didn’t name names ‘because nobody said anything’ before adding: ‘We should be ashamed of ourselves.’

Gal Gadot

Israeli actress Gal Gadot appealed for a ‘free and safe nation’ (Picture: Christopher Polk/WWD via Getty Images)

As one of the few Israeli actresses on a global scale, Gal Gadot’s response to the war has been particularly publicised.

When the fighting kicked off, she shared a video of U2’s performance where they sent support to the October 7 victims, and wrote: ‘Thank you @U2 and Bono for supporting Israel.’ 

While on stage at the Las Vegas Sphere, the band had said: ‘We sing for our brothers and sisters, who they themselves were singing at the Supernova Succot festival in Israel. 

‘We sing for those. Our people. Our kind of people. Music people, playful, experimental people. Our kind of people. We sing for them.’ 

The Wonder Woman star tweeted that her ‘country is at war’, saying her ‘heart breaks’ at the violence.

‘Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation,’ she tweeted. ‘Our neighbours deserve the same.

‘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 can live side by side in peace.’

Comments under the post were disabled as some did accuse the actress, who served in the Israeli military previously, of pushing ‘propaganda’ while others defended her.

An old photo of the 39-year-old actress arriving for service began circulating online, however, the IDF confirmed Gadot had not re-enlisted.

Most Israeli citizens are required to serve in the military from the age of 18 for a minimum of 32 and 24 months (the shorter time frame is for women).

After the October attacks, the actress posted her country’s flag on Instagram with the caption: ‘I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!’

Jerry Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld said the protests against him were ‘so dumb’ (Picture: Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty Images)

Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld travelled to Tel Aviv in December to meet with family members of hostages taken by Hamas.

He described the experience as ‘powerful’ and signed an open letter in support of Israel.

Some protestors have attended the 70-year-old’s shows which he called ‘so dumb’ and sarcastically encouraged them to ‘correct their aim’.

On a podcast, Seinfeld said: ‘I love that these young people, they’re trying to get engaged with politics. We have to just correct their aim a little bit.

‘They don’t seem to understand that, as comedians, we really don’t control anything.’

Seeming to take a more neutral view, he added: ‘They’re mobs believing their own crap, right? That’s what a political party is, “We’re gonna make up a bunch of nonsense and we’ll all agree to it. Let’s print up some bumper stickers and get out there kids — that’s politics.”

‘We’re tribal animals. We’re social creatures. We look for agreement and consensus. We’re driven by agreement and consensus and mob rule — it gives us comfort, gives us certainty. It’s all BS.’

Noah Schnapp

Noah Schnapp was pictured with ‘Zionism is sexy’ stickers (Picture: Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)

Noah Schnapp garnered huge backlash when he posted himself posing with people holding stickers which read ‘Zionism is sexy’.

This came after he shared a post after the October 7 attack, writing: ‘As a Jewish American, I am afraid.’

In the since deleted post, he continued: ‘Afraid for my brothers and sisters in Israel, who have been senselessly attacked by Hamas. I am truly heartbroken to see the brutal murders of innocent children, women and soldiers fighting to defend themselves.

‘I, like others, want peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. Let’s stop the rhetoric and choosing sides. Instead we must recognize that we are all on the side of the fight against terrorism.’

The Stranger Things actor, who is Jewish, later said his ‘beliefs have been so far misconstrued’ in a video posted on TikTok.

He said: ‘I only want peace and safety and security for all innocent people affected by this conflict. I’ve had many open discussions with friends from Palestinian backgrounds, and I think those are very important conversations to have and I’ve learned a lot.

‘We all hope for the same things, that being those innocent people still being held hostage in Gaza to be returned to their families, and equally hope for an end to the loss of innocent life in Palestine — so many of those people being women and children, and it’s horrible to see. I think anyone with any ounce of humanity would hope for an end to the hostility on both sides.’

Celebrities calling for a ceasefire

Nicola Coughlan

During her Bridgerton press, Nicola Coughlan appealed for a ceasefire (Picture: Guerin Charles/ABACA/Shutterstock)

As Bridgerton season three aired, Nicola Coughlan used her platform to call for a ceasefire — particularly focusing on Rafah.

She asked for donations for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) via Instagram and raised £1.01million ($1.2million) in just one day.

While she has stated support for Palestine, Coughlan’s main message has been about a ceasefire.

During interviews, the Barbie actress wore an Artists for Ceasefire pin and discussed how her privilege meant she felt compelled to speak out.

‘I’m doing my dream job and I’m getting to travel the world, but then I’m hyper-aware of what’s happening in Rafah at the moment,’ said Coughlan.

‘I just feel, if I have this global platform, which I do at the minute, I think if I can hopefully raise funds for aid organisations — I have a fundraiser on my Instagram right now for Medical Aid for Palestine and if people would like to donate to that or share it I think it would be a wonderful thing to do.’

The Derry Girls star’s father was part of the UN’s Truce Supervision Organisation, a peacekeeping force working in the Middle East, and her family also lived in Jerusalem in the late 70s.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry shared graphics on Instagram asking for hostages to be released (Picture: Reuters)

Katy Perry shared a graphic on Instagram which contained a message asking for ‘an immediate ceasefire’

It continued: ‘[We want] the unconditional release of all hostages and an end to the senseless killing of children.’

In another caption, Perry wrote: ‘A military besiegement and ground incursion in Rafah, Gaza, poses a catastrophic risk to the children sheltering there. Many of the children camped in Rafah have been displaced multiple times and have lost homes, parents and loved ones.

‘Thousands are injured, malnourished, traumatized or living with disabilities.

‘They must be protected, along with the few remaining basic services and infrastructure they need to survive.’

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen

Power couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend donated huge sums (Picture: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

As with many celebrities, John Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen shared the link to the Save the Children fundraiser.

They revealed they had each donated $100,000 to the humanitarian organisation, backing its demands for a ‘definitive ceasefire’.

‘Nowhere is safe in Gaza,’ Legend wrote. ‘Children are being killed at a devastating rate, whole families are being wiped out.

‘The worst-case scenario is becoming a reality. Children and their families need more than words, they need action.’

He concluded: ‘There is no alternative. (A ceasefire) is the only way to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance and ensure the release of all remaining hostages.’

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