A collective voice of 76 Hollywood stars and artists, including renowned figures like Susan Sarandon, Dua Lipa, Kristen Stewart, Riz Ahmed, Diplo, and Channing Tatum, has united in a heartfelt letter to urge US President Joe Biden to press for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
The celebrities’ letter, organized and distributed by the nonprofit organization Artists 4 Ceasefire, implores President Biden and other global leaders to prioritize the sanctity of all lives in Israel occupied Palestine and to take swift action by facilitating a ceasefire and ending the ongoing bombardment of Gaza.
In their message, the celebrities express their refusal to remain silent, vowing not to pass down a legacy of inaction to future generations. They quote United Nations Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths, who recently stated that “History is watching.”
The letter read as following:
“Dear President Biden,
“We come together as artists and advocates, but most importantly as human beings witnessing the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horrors in Israel and Palestine.
“We ask that, as President of the United States, you call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost. More than 5,000 people have been killed in the last week and a half – a number any person of conscience knows is catastrophic. We believe all life is sacred, no matter faith or ethnicity and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians.
“We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor 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. Half of Gaza’s two million residents are children, and more than two thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them.
“We believe that the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering and we are adding our voices to those from the US Congress, UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, The International Committee of The Red Cross, and so many others.
“Beyond our pain and mourning for all of the people there and their loved ones around the world we are motivated by an unbending will to stand for our common humanity. We stand for freedom, justice, dignity and peace for all people – and a deep desire to stop more bloodshed. We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing.”
The conflict, which has been escalating since October 7, witnessed a significant attack by Hamas, resulting in the tragic loss of 1,400 lives and the taking of around 200 hostages. In response, Israel has carried out a series of airstrikes in Gaza, leading to the loss of over 4,100 Palestinian lives, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.
The celebrities emphasize the need for humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza, who have been facing dire conditions as a result of the conflict. The blockade imposed by Israel since 2007 has already made life challenging for the 2.3 million residents living in the 45-kilometer-long enclave.
The letter comes at a pivotal moment in the ongoing crisis. President Biden, acknowledging the urgency of the situation, expressed his belief that trucks carrying humanitarian aid will reach Gaza within the next 24 to 48 hours.
