Riz Ahmed posted an impassioned plea on social media to “stop the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Gaza” amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“We are told that there are two sides to what is happening in Israel and Palestine. But deep down I know there is only one side of our humanity,” the Oscar nominee wrote. “What happened in Israel last week was horrific and wrong. The pain and fear that many feel is deep and real. What is happening now in Gaza and what is happening in Palestine, which has been under occupation for decades, is terrible and wrong. The depth and reality of this suffering cannot be ignored.”
Ahmed continued: “If we only look in one direction, we will fall deeper into darkness. But this is exactly what is happening now. We are asked to look away while Gazan civilians, half of them children, are running out of time. If we are on the side of humanity, we must urgently speak out to try to prevent the loss of innocent lives. This means calling for an end to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza’s civilian population and vital infrastructure, the deprivation of food, water and electricity, and the forcible displacement of people from their homes. These are morally unjustifiable war crimes.”
After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,300 people, many of them civilians, the New York Times reported, Israel officially declared war. Israel has since responded with airstrikes, and the Palestinian health ministry has reported that more than 2,700 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Times. The United Nations estimates that at least 1 million Gazans have been forced to flee their homes, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis.
“We need to put ourselves in the shoes of the Gazans now, before we all pass the point of no return,” Ahmed wrote. “If you, like me, tried to find the right words, then there are none. No words can cover the pain, heal the divisions, or do justice to all this injustice. Whatever you say will be too much for some and not enough for others. But the important thing is that we speak out. Silence is not an option.”
News of the war led to a powerful show of support for Israel from Hollywood, with more than 700 entertainment industry figures signing an open letter on Thursday condemning Hamas and demanding the return of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. The letter was signed by Gal Gadot, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer, Michael Douglas, Jerry Seinfeld, Debra Messing, Ryan Murphy, Greg Berlanti, Haim Saban, Irving Azoff, Inon Kreutz, Mark Hamill. , Howie Mandel, Bella Thorne, Antoine Fuqua and others.
Many celebrities have also taken to social media to share their thoughts on the conflict – you can read more about their reactions here.