More than 1,800 actors, producers, and entertainers, including several Hollywood stars, have signed a pledge refusing to work with Israeli film institutions accused of complicity in human rights abuses against Palestinians.
The pledge, released on Monday, was inspired by the historic Filmmakers United Against Apartheid movement in South Africa. It commits signatories to avoiding screenings, festivals, or projects linked to Israeli broadcasters, cinemas, and production companies that they say “whitewash or justify” Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
“This is not a call to boycott Israeli individuals,” the statement clarified. “The call is for film workers to refuse to work with Israeli institutions complicit in Israel’s human rights abuses.”
Prominent figures backing the pledge include Oscar winners Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Mark Ruffalo, alongside Tilda Swinton, Riz Ahmed, Javier Bardem, and Cynthia Nixon.
The move comes amid growing international criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced much of the enclave’s population, and raised fears of famine. Rights groups and legal experts have described Israel’s actions as genocidal, while the International Court of Justice has deemed the occupation of Palestinian territories illegal.
Israel’s government rejects such claims, insisting its actions are in self-defence following Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which killed around 1,200 people and saw more than 250 others taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
The pledge follows a high-profile moment at the Venice Film Festival, where The Voice of Hind Rajab — a documentary about a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza — received a standing ovation. Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix served as executive producers of the film.
With international outrage intensifying over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the boycott reflects a widening cultural backlash against Israel’s handling of the conflict.
