Fifty-eight prominent celebrities, including Andrew Garfield, Cate Blanchett, Hasan Minhaj, Joaquin Phoenix, Kristen Stewart, Jessica Chastain, Rooney Mara, and Oscar Isaac, have collectively penned an “open letter” to U.S. President Joe Biden amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
What Happened: In an open letter addressed to President Biden, the prominent celebrities from the entertainment industry called for an “immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost.”
The ongoing conflict began when Hamas, in control of Gaza for over 15 years, initiated its attack on Israel earlier this month — on the day following the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War’s commencement. The group’s actions included rocket launches into Israel, invasions of towns, civilian deaths, and kidnappings.
Considered a terrorist organization by multiple nations, including the U.S. and the E.U., Hamas faced retaliation from Israel, which retook the invaded area and launched strikes into Gaza. This has led to hundreds of casualties on both sides.
“More than 5,000 people have been killed in the last week and a half – a number any person of conscience knows is catastrophic. We believe all life is sacred, no matter faith or ethnicity and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians,” the letter stated.
The letter underscored the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, with the dire conditions faced by its two million residents.
It highlighted the impact on children, saying that “Half of Gaza’s two million residents are children, and more than two-thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them.”
“We stand for freedom, justice, dignity, and peace for all people – and a deep desire to stop more bloodshed,” the letter concluded with a plea for action, adding, “We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. As Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told UN News, ‘History is watching.'”
Why It’s Important: In the letter, it was also mentioned that the signatories have joined a chorus of voices, including the U.S. Congress, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, and The International Committee of the Red Cross. “Saving lives is a moral imperative.”
Meanwhile, on Friday, Hamas released two American citizens, Judith Raanan and her 18-year-old daughter Natalie, who were handed over to the Red Cross.
On the same day, the U.S. President also said that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is expected to be prepared for reopening within the next 24-48 hours to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
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