Hollywood Stars Boycott Israeli Film Institutions Accused of Complicity in Gaza Atrocities

More than 3,000 Hollywood actors, directors, and film industry workers have signed a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions accused of complicity in Gaza atrocities. The initiative, organized by Film Workers for Palestine, makes clear that the boycott does not target Israeli individuals or all institutions, but specifically those seen as “whitewashing or justifying” human rights abuses against Palestinians.

Among the high-profile signatories are Emma Stone, Ava DuVernay, Riz Ahmed, Olivia Colman, Tilda Swinton, Yorgos Lanthimos, Adam McKay, and Javier Bardem, alongside hundreds of other global artists. The pledge commits film workers to avoid collaborating with Israeli festivals, broadcasters, cinemas, and production companies that partner with the Israeli government or fail to endorse Palestinians’ internationally recognized rights.

Organizers stressed that the boycott is directed at institutions, not individuals, emphasizing that the goal is to end “institutional complicity” in the oppression of Palestinians.

Historical Inspiration

The campaign is modeled on the 1980s Filmmakers United Against Apartheid, when major Hollywood names including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Spike Lee refused to screen their films in South Africa. Just as cultural boycotts helped isolate the apartheid regime then, advocates of the current pledge hope to pressure Israeli institutions to distance themselves from government policies and human rights violations.

Context: Gaza Crisis

The pledge comes amid what the International Court of Justice has described as plausible genocide in Gaza. Since October 2023, Israel’s military assault has killed more than 64,500 Palestinians, injured over 163,000, destroyed hospitals and schools, and restricted aid, causing widespread starvation.

While Israeli officials claim their actions are acts of self-defense against Hamas, rights organizations and international legal bodies argue that the scale of destruction and civilian deaths points to collective punishment and systematic apartheid policies.

Industry Response

Israeli film and television representatives condemned the boycott, calling it “misguided.” Tzvika Gottlieb, CEO of the Israeli Film & TV Producers Association, said his industry has worked to highlight diverse narratives and has openly criticized government policies.

In response, Film Workers for Palestine stated: “Should Israeli film institutions wish to continue working with pledge signatories, their choice is clear: end complicity in genocide and apartheid, and endorse the full rights of the Palestinian people under international law.”

Growing Momentum

This cultural boycott joins the broader Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, launched in 2005 by Palestinian civil society organizations. Similar pledges have been seen recently in the literary world, with thousands of authors and publishers refusing to collaborate with Israeli institutions.

At the recent Venice International Film Festival, more than 10,000 demonstrators joined a march for Palestine, further highlighting growing global solidarity. Films like No Other Land and The Voice of Hind Rajab have also amplified Palestinian voices on the international stage.

For many in Hollywood, this boycott represents a moral duty. As one Jewish American signatory, comedian Hannah Einbinder, explained: “We must do everything to end the genocide.”