Since the recent severe attacks by Israel on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza began in October 2023 , celebrities worldwide have made it their mission to speak out about the situation in Palestine. They are raising awareness and urging their followers to support justice.
Actress Emma Watson made a pro-Palestinian remark on her Instagram account that went viral. Leading Israeli politicians even accused Watson of antisemitism when she posted an infographic that said, “Solidarity is a verb.”
Singer Zayn Malik has also consistently shown support for Palestine. He first made headlines in 2014 by tweeting “#FreePalestine” during Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. More recently, in May 2024, Malik posted an infographic on Instagram detailing the situation in Sheikh Jarrah. In the caption, Malik said that he stands with the Palestinian people and supports their resistance to colonisation.
Angelina Jolie, with her work aiding refugees through the UN, has also spoken out. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “What happened in Israel is an act of terror. But that cannot justify the innocent lives lost in bombing a civilian population in Gaza that has nowhere to go, no access to food or water, no possibility of evacuation, and not even the basic human right to cross a border to seek refuge.” The actress has also called for an immediate ceasefire repeatedly.
Actor Mark Ruffalo joined 40 other actors in endorsing a letter organised by Artists for Palestine UK, in support of Emma Watson’s solidarity statement. Ruffalo regularly tweets in support of Palestinians and has even called for sanctions on Israel, aligning his stance with reports from organisations like Human Rights Watch, which have accused Israel of apartheid.
Arab World
In the Arab world, Lebanese pop star Elissa was among the first to express solidarity with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. She liked several posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing support for Palestine before posting a tweet with Palestine’s flag and a quote urging everyone to speak out against injustice if they cannot stop it.
Elissa, known as the top-selling Arab female artist in the Middle East with millions of social media followers, has consistently shown public support for Palestine. In 2021, she notably spoke out when Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood faced threats of forced displacement by Israel.
Other Arab singers who tweeted support for Palestine include Carole Samaha, Laila Ghofran, Nawal al-Zoghbi, Latifa, Ragheb Alame, Ruby, Nancy Ajram, Hani Shaker, Tamer Hosny, Walid Toufic, and Moeen Charif, who released a song in 2022 dedicated to the late American-Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh after she was killed by Israeli forces while covering a military raid in the West Bank.
Prominent actors from the Middle East, such as Karim Abedal Aziz, Sulaff Fawakherji, Monther Rayahneh, Mohamed Henedi, Kinda Alloush, Horeya Farghaly, Sherihan
Bollywood
Indian celebrities have taken to social media to support Palestine through the All Eyes on Rafah campaign, aiming to raise awareness about the crisis in Gaza city. Notable figures, including Bollywood stars and influencers, have posted in solidarity.
The actors, directors, and other film personalities who work in many Indian languages, such as Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha, Rashmika Mandanna, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Triptii Dimri, Atlee Kumar, Dia Mirza, and Richa Chadha, took to social media to stand with the people of Palestine who face brutal genocide in Gaza by Israel.
