More than 1,800 actors, directors, and producers have pledged not to work with Israeli film groups. The move is part of the growing Hollywood boycott of Israeli film institutions.
The pledge was signed by prominent names including Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Riz Ahmed, Javier Bardem, and Cynthia Nixon. The statement said the boycott targets Israeli festivals, broadcasters, production houses, and cinemas accused of supporting human rights abuses.
The signatories stressed that the pledge does not apply to individuals. Instead, it calls for a halt to cooperation with institutions seen as complicit in alleged war crimes and apartheid. They accused Israeli cultural bodies of “whitewashing or justifying” actions against Palestinians.
The announcement came shortly after a United Nations Commission of Inquiry issued a major report. The commission concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, citing large-scale killings, forced displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
It accused top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of inciting these acts. Israel rejected the findings as biased and politically motivated.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 64,000 people have been killed since the war began nearly two years ago. Aid groups warn that famine has also reached parts of the region.
Inspired by past boycotts during apartheid in South Africa, the pledge echoes global protest movements. From London to New Zealand, thousands have marched in solidarity with Palestinians. Several European governments have also signaled they may recognize an independent Palestinian state in the coming weeks.
Supporters of the pledge argue that cultural institutions cannot remain neutral while a humanitarian crisis unfolds. Critics, however, say the boycott unfairly punishes Israeli artists and limits dialogue. Israel has long dismissed boycott campaigns as discriminatory.
The debate reflects wider tensions over how the global arts community responds to political conflicts. With growing calls for accountability, the role of culture in shaping public opinion has become a central issue.
For more on high-profile exclusion controversies, see the full story here: Hulk Hogan Missing Sparks Emmys In Memoriam Snub Row.
