Celebrities expressed their horror at the Hamas attack and Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, with Bono, Gigi Hadid, Madonna and others speaking out.
U2 frontman Bono changed the lyrics to the band’s hit “Pride (In the Name of Love”) during their performance in Las Vegas on Sunday.
He called on the audience to sing for “those beautiful children at this music festival”, referring to the hundreds killed and wounded at the Supernova festival attacked by Hamas.
Madonna posted a video of the violence on Instagram, adding: “It’s heartbreaking to watch all these families, and especially children, being harassed, attacked and killed in the streets.
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“Conflicts can never be resolved by violence. Unfortunately, humanity does not understand this Universal truth. Never understood it. We live in a world devastated by hatred,” the singer added.
Model Gigi Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, reiterated her support for the Palestinian cause but wrote: “While I have hopes and dreams for the Palestinians, none of them include harm done to the Jew.”
“Terrorizing innocent people… does not bring any benefit to the Free Palestine movement.” The idea that it is beneficial fuels a painful, multi-year cycle of back and forth retaliation… and helps perpetuate a false idea. that being pro-Palestinian = anti-Semitic.”
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Renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim, who grew up in Israel and has campaigned for peace in the region for decades, said he “vehemently” condemned the Hamas attack on X, the former Twitter.
But he said Israel’s siege of Gaza “represents a policy of collective punishment that is a violation of human rights.”
“I support Israel and you should too,” “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, wrote on Instagram.
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“The world cannot sit idly by while these horrific acts of terrorism occur!”
Oscar winner Viola Davis said anyone who doesn’t feel sympathy for the victims of the Hamas attack is falling for “propaganda.”
“The purpose of propaganda is to dehumanize. It works to dehumanize Israelis and it works to dehumanize Gazans…this weekend reminded me how widespread it is. Because many people responded to this violence with justification rather than compassion.”
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Portman, an Israeli-American citizen, wrote: “My heart breaks for the people of Israel.”
Scala said he was “heartbroken, angry and disgusted” by the Hamas attack.
“I don’t pretend to know everything about the complex conflict in the Middle East,” he said.
But he added: “Hateful terrorist acts such as this can never be justified.”
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