Pink denies flying Israeli flags during tour amid Israeli-Palestinian war

A growing number of celebrities are reacting to the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, where the death toll on both sides topped 4,000 on Monday and thousands more were injured.

Pink and Riz Ahmed issued statements on social media as the world prepared Monday for Israel’s expected ground invasion of the Gaza Strip to crush Hamas. Meanwhile, the Academy Museum Gala postponed its annual fundraiser and the red carpet for Sofia Coppola’s upcoming film “Priscilla” was cancelled.

Last week, more than 700 actors, comedians, musicians and Hollywood influencers signed an open letter condemning Hamas’ “barbaric terrorist attacks” in Israel and calling for the return of the hostages.

Here’s what more celebrities are saying.

Riz Ahmed calls for an end to ‘indiscriminate bombing’ of Gazans

Oscar-winning British actor and rapper Riz Ahmed took to his social media platforms to call for an end to the “indiscriminate bombing of civilians and critical infrastructure in Gaza, the deprivation of food, water and electricity, and the forced displacement of people from their homes.” .

“These are unjustifiable war crimes,” he continued. “We need to put ourselves in the shoes of the Gazans now, before we all pass the point of no return.”

The Sound of Metal actor also condemned Hamas’ actions, calling the attack “horrible and wrong.”

Pink denies flying Israeli flags during tour

Pink, who is currently on the North American leg of her Summer Carnival tour, said in a statement: The singer explained that the flags “were used many, many years ago by the Maori people in New Zealand and because they and the Maori people are beautiful to me, we use their”.

“I’ve been using Poi flags since the beginning of this tour,” she said. “I do not fly flags at my show in support of anything or anyone other than the rainbow flag. This will remain my position.”

She continued: “I am human. I believe in peace. Equality. Love. I am deeply saddened by the state of the world. I’m praying for all of us.”

The Academy Museum Gala, which was supposed to honor Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey, has been postponed.

The war also resonated in Hollywood.

On October 12, the Los Angeles Film Academy Museum announced that the red carpet for its annual fundraising gala on October 14 would be canceled “out of respect for the devastating conflict and loss of life occurring overseas.”

“The Academy Museum condemns all forms of hatred and cruelty and supports the lives of innocent Israelis and Palestinians affected by ongoing violence,” the museum said in a statement.

Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Michael B. Jordan and Sofia Coppola were to be honored at the event.

‘Priscilla’ red carpet premiere in Los Angeles canceled

The red carpet premiere of Sofia Coppola’s film Priscilla, based on the love story of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, has been cancelled. Likewise, in response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” A24 Films confirmed to USA TODAY in an email. .

“Out of respect for events occurring in the world, we will be walking the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Priscilla,” the studio said in an email to press.

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What is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

One of the world’s longest and most intractable conflicts involves centuries of competing claims to land, borders and rights in a region of deep historical and religious significance.

In 1947, the United Nations attempted to divide what was then British Mandate Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. A year later, when the State of Israel was created, the first Arab-Israeli war broke out. Since Israel’s victory and after several other wars, Palestinians have been gradually driven out of what they also consider their rightful homeland.

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Contributing: John Bacon, KiMi Robinson, Kim Hjelmgaard, Philip M. Bailey, Josh Meyer, Sudiksha Kochi, Francesca Chambers and Edward Segarra, USA TODAY