Mark Ruffalo, Ayo Edebiri, Javier Bardem among 1300 artistes boycotting Israeli film industry over Gaza war

More than 1,300 artistes, including prominent Hollywood names Mark Ruffalo, Riz Ahmed, Ayo Edebiri, Olivia Colman, Tilda Swinton, and Javier Bardem, have pledged not to work with Israeli film institutions accused of complicity in human rights abuses against Palestinians. The statement, released Monday, condemned what it called the "unrelenting horror" in Gaza, where Israeli military actions have killed more than 64,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of the territory.

"Inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid, who refused to screen films in apartheid South Africa, we pledge not to screen films, appear at or otherwise work with Israeli film institutions – including festivals, cinemas, broadcasters and production companies – that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people," the declaration read.

The signatories accused Israeli cultural organisations of aiding in violations of international law, including "whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them." They also pointed to International Court of Justice rulings that deemed genocide charges against Israel plausible and found its occupation of Palestinian territories illegal.

The pledge reflects growing cultural opposition to Israel's actions. Rights groups and United Nations experts have repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide since the conflict with Hamas escalated nearly two years ago. Palestinian rights advocates have urged global celebrities to use their platforms to amplify the humanitarian crisis.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mike Lerner, one of the signatories, described the boycott as a "non-violent tool" to challenge Israel's impunity.

The decision has added to Hollywood's divisions over the conflict. In 2023, Susan Sarandon was dropped by her talent agency after attending a Palestine solidarity rally, though she is also among those who signed Monday's pledge. Actress Melissa Barrera, another signatory, lost her role in the Scream franchise over social media posts critical of Israel.

Despite the risks for individual careers, films portraying the Palestinian experience have received global recognition. In March, "No Other Land", a documentary about the destruction of Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Last week, "The Voice of Hind Rajab", telling the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, received a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix were among the film's executive producers.