Dozens of Hollywood actors and artists, including comedian Jon Stewart and Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, wrote on Friday to US President Joe Biden, urging him to press for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
Hamas launched its biggest attack yet on Israel on October 7, killing 1,400 people and taking about 200 hostages. Since then, Israel has bombed Gaza and so far killed 4,137 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
“We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honour all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages,” the celebrities wrote to Biden.
“We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. As [United Nations] Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told UN News, ‘History is watching’,” they said in the letter, citing Griffiths’ comment on Monday.
The petition, distributed by the organisation Artists 4 Ceasefire, so far has 76 signatories. Here is a full list of the celebrities.
Margaret Cho,Mark Ruffalo,May Calamawy,Michael Malarkey,Michael Moore,Michael Stipe,Michelle Wolf,Miguel,Mo Amer,Natalie Merchant,Oscar Isaac,Quinta Brunson,Rachel Sennott,Ramy Youssef,Ravena Aurora,Riz Ahmed,Rooney Mara Rosario Dawson,Rowan Blanchard,Ryan Coogler,Sandra Oh,Sebastian Silva,Shailene Woodley,Shaka King,Simi Haze,Stephanie Suganami,Susan Sarandon,Taylour Paige,Tommy Genesis,Vic Mensa,Victoria Monét,Wallace Shawn,Wanda Sykes,Yara Shahidi
“Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them [Gazans],” the letter read.
Biden said on Friday he believed that trucks carrying aid will get through to Gaza in the next 24 to 48 hours. Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, a 45-km-long enclave, has created dire conditions for the 2.3 million people living there under a blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took control in 2007.
