Gal Gadot, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian support Israel amid 'horrific' Palestinian conflict
Gal Gadot, Kylie Jenner, Nina Dobrev, U2 and more celebrities have shown solidarity for Israel amid the country's escalated conflict with Palestinian militants.
"I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!" Gadot posted Saturday on Instagram. The "Wonder Woman 1984" star is Israeli.
Israel and Palestinian militants are at war after stunning and deadly surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday that coincided with a major Jewish holiday and the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur war. It was one of the most significant attacks on Israel in decades, with militants infiltrating 22 towns and army bases. The invasion saw over 1,200 Israelis killed, with at least 22 Americans among the dead, the State Department said.
Israel responded by rushing troops to the border area of Palestine's Gaza City and launching airstrikes across the blockaded territory. Palestinian officials say more than 1,100 militants and citizens in Gaza have been killed and more than 5,000 wounded.
Here's what celebrities are saying about the conflict.
Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian show solidarity with Jewish community
Model Gigi Hadid, who is of Palestinian descent, took to Instagram to speak out against the "unjustifiable tragedy" of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on Jewish people.
“I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation. It’s a responsibility I hold daily," Hadid wrote. "I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person."
She added: “There are a lot of complex, personal and valid feelings, but every human deserves basic rights, treatment and security; no matter their nationality, religion, ethnicity or where they were born."
Kim Kardashian also expressed solidarity with her "Jewish friends and family," writing on Instagram, "I love you. I support you. I have heard about how scared you feel during this time, and I want you to know you are not alone in this."
Kardashian encouraged her followers to reach out to their peers and loved ones "no matter what side they are on, check in on them and tell them you love them."
"No matter whose side you're on, or how you have been triggered by the horrors of these past few days, our hearts should always have room for compassion towards innocent victims caught in the crosshairs of warring over power, politics, religion, race and ethnicity," Kardashian wrote.
Viola Davis, Lynda Carter, Mark Ruffalo, more call for peace
Viola Davis, Lynda Carter and Mark Ruffalo are among several stars who've continued to speak out following Hamas' attack on Israel.
Davis shared a post by author Ben Sheehan on Instagram that read "If you have less empathy towards victims because of how you feel about their government, propaganda is working on you."
"I pray for the safe return of all hostages and peace," Davis wrote.
Sarah Paulson and Busy Philipps each shared a post by political strategist Jordan C. Brown on Instagram that called on people to "use our voices to denounce terrorism and the senseless murder of civilians."
"I have felt overwhelmed with grief these past two days," Philipps wrote. "My heart continues to break, and I will continue to pray and work in all the ways I can for peace."
"Millions of Israelis and Palestinians have worked so hard to end the cycle of violence, only to see it escalate," Carter wrote on Instagram. "Nothing we say, as we sit safely in our own homes and far away from the conflict, can really capture how much of a tragedy this is."
Tony Hale shared a graphic that read "You do not need to be Jewish or Israeli to be outraged by this pure evil. You only need to be human."
"I am grief-stricken for the unspeakable suffering and loss of life and loved ones. This horrific violence must end," Ruffalo wrote on Instagram. "The sanctity of our common humanity will hopefully serve to heal the unimaginable wounds of division."
Josh Gad says 'we are all losers' in Israel-Palestinian conflict
Josh Gad expressed sadness for lives lost in Israel on Threads Saturday. "I have no words. I am praying for my many family members in Israel. What a cowardly act," he wrote. "What we are witnessing in real time right now is unprecedented since the Yom Kippur war. My heart breaks for the families of those who have lost loved ones, and for the hostages who have been taken. What a horrific day."
On Sunday, Gad said that he was "personally attacked, shamed, unfollowed and threatened" for expressing sympathy for Israeli citizens killed in a surprise attack orchestrated by the Hamas.
"Instead of compassion & humanity, people are treating this as if it’s a FOOTBALL match with two teams when the points scored are dead human bodies. Waving flags around as if they are team jerseys," he continued. "Somewhere in a basement right now, tied up and terrified are little CHILDREN who have never done anything to hurt a Palestinian. Somewhere on the streets of Gaza are innocent people who are being shelled, because terrorists decided it was best to destroy any opportunity for peace."
Gad, who said he has also "been critical of the Israeli Government and it's pattern of occupation and their attacks on innocent Gazans," added that he was sadden that there isn't "communal despair" around the current situation in Israel.
"There are no winners here. We are all losers. Most importantly, every Israeli and Palestinian is now on the losing end," he concluded. "I am truly at a loss. I guess I’m the naive one."
U2 dedicates 'Pride' to fans killed at Israeli music festival, offers prayers for 'peace and nonviolence'
At the fifth show of their extended run at the Las Vegas Sphere on Sunday, U2 modified the lyrics of “Pride (In the Name of Love)” to honor the hundreds of music fans killed at the Supernova music festival in Israel early Saturday.
“A song about nonviolence seems ridiculous, but our prayers have always been for peace and for nonviolence. … Our hearts and our anger,” Bono said, his voice catching, “you know where that’s pointed. So sing with us.”
As the Edge began the guitar introduction of the song, the audience immediately launched into the “whoa-oh-oh-oh” signature of the chorus. Bono opened the song, written in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and released in 1984, with the revamped lyric, “Early morning, Oct. 7, sun is rising in the desert sky. Stars of David, they took your life, but they could not take your pride” before repeatedly emphasizing the “could not take your pride” line.
More than 260 bodies have been recovered from the festival site near the Gaza border after Hamas militants opened fire on fans gathered at the electronic music festival.
Kylie Jenner, Nina Dobrev, Ashley Tisdale show support for Israel
Jenner, Ashley Tisdale, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sofia Richie are among many celebrities who have shared a graphic from pro-Israel nonprofit organization Stand With Us in their Instagram Stories to show support.
The image from the anti-semitism organization states: "Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!"
Jenner removed the graphic from her Instagram Stories after receiving criticism across social media.
"Imagine asking kylie jenner to tell us more about the political and territorial conflict between israel and palestine since 1948 and lets see what she has to say," one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Another tweeted: "Girl, if that’s what you support. Then stand by it. Or was it just more performative activism? Don’t double back now that you’re getting backlash."
Dobrev and Amy Schumer reposted several videos in support of Israel.
Schumer added commentary on an Instagram post, writing, "Jewish people are the only group not allowed to defend themselves."
"This has nothing to do with the occupation. Hamas don’t want end to occupation. They want to eradicate Israel," she wrote. "They’re funded by Iran, who are trying to destroy the peace deal."
Bruno Mars cancels show in Israel amid Palestinian conflict
Bruno Mars planned two nights in Israel as part of his ongoing world tour. His first concert in Tel Aviv went on without a hitch on Wednesday, but his Saturday performance was canceled amid Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"Bruno Mars concert scheduled to take place tonight is cancelled," Live Nation Israel announced on Instagram hours ahead of the event.
The organizer promised refunds to all ticket holders, adding, "We stand with the residents of Israel, IDF fighters and the security forces in these difficult moments."
Mars did not personally address the canceled show or comment on Israel's current state.
'90210' actor Sara Foster calls for accountability among Palestinians in denouncing Hamas attack
Sara Foster, who starred as Jen Clark on "90210," took to her Instagram story Sunday to criticize Palestinian influencers who have stayed silent on the recent violence committed by Hamas in Israel.
Foster, daughter of music producer David Foster, added that "you can still be a proud Palestinian who holds Hamas accountable for this."
"You can not stand with the government of Israel and still denounce the killing of innocent children," Foster wrote. "We will never thrive as a global society if we don't start holding our own accountable."
What is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
One of the world's most enduring and intractable conflicts connects to a century of competing claims to land, borders and rights in a region of deep historical and religious significance.
The United Nations in 1947 tried to divide the-then British Mandate of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. A year later, when the state of Israel was created, the first Arab-Israeli War broke out. Ever since Israel's victory and following several other wars, Palestinians have gradually been displaced from territory that they also see as their rightful homeland.
Israel-Hamas conflict live updates: Death toll nears 1,000 as Israel formally declares war
Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, Phillip M. Bailey, Josh Meyer, Sudiksha Kochi, Francesca Chambers, Edward Segarra Melissa Ruggieri, John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gal Gadot, Gigi Hadid, more react to Israeli-Palestinian conflict