Hollywood Coalition Pushes for Release of Israeli Hostages, Launches Awareness Campaign – Update

UPDATED with campaign launch: Many of Hollywood’s top stars, who earlier this month signed a letter calling for the release of Israeli hostages taken during a Hamas attack, launched a campaign called #ReleaseTheHostagesNow to raise awareness of this urgent issue .

The coalition, led by letter organizer Creative Community For Peace, former CBS boss Nina Tassler and Sipur Studios CEO Emilio Schenker, used their social media platforms to raise awareness of the 239 hostages still being held.

Participants include Helen Mirren, Michael Douglas, Billy Crystal, Amy Schumer, Debra Messing, Julianna Margulies, Mayim Bialik, Mandy Moore, Chelsea Handler, Sharon Osbourne, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, Jerry O’Connell and Joshua Malina included. , Alyssa Milano, Chuck Norris, Phil Rosenthal, Dr. Phil, Dean Cain, Kristin Chenoweth, Josh Peck, Juliette Lewis, Howie Mandel, Marg Helgenberger, Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham and Constance Zimmer.

“This urgent campaign highlights the need for the international community to pressure states with influence over Hamas to free these individuals from exile,” Bialik said in the press release announcing the initiative. “It is imperative that the world does not forget the faces of these innocent victims – this is why Israel continues this war on terror, and this is why the world is taking a stand against this hatred and saying NO MORE.”

BEFORE, October 12: A letter signed by more than 1,000 members of the Hollywood community calls for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas as part of its attacks on Israel.

Names like Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Michael Douglas, Greg Berlanti, Mayim Bialik, Gail Berman, Jerry Seinfeld, Jamie Lee Curtis, Antoine Fuqua, Bryan Freedman, Mark Hamill, Jenji Kohan, Howie Mandel, Sherry Lansing, Ziggy Marley, Debra Messing Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer and John Landgraf are among the many names among the signatories of the letter, which appeared on the Creative Community for Peace website.

The letter condemns the “nightmare that Israelis have feared for decades” and “calls on our friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry to speak out strongly against Hamas and do everything in their power to help the terrorist organization kill the innocent to return “To incite hostages. to their families.”

“My heart aches for the lives lost and the families devastated,” Gadot said in a statement. “I pray for all those affected by Hamas’s terrorism and brutality. And I hope that the world continues to steadfastly support the people of Israel.”

The letter comes as Hollywood companies begin to speak out about the attacks, which have so far killed more than 1,300 people and injured thousands.

Early Thursday, a group of entertainment executives and producers were working on a statement condemning the attacks. Several people, including Haim Saban, Gary Barber, Ynon Kreiz and Rick Yorn, also signed the Creative Community for Peace letter.

“After the barbaric murder of over 1,200 Israelis, we in the Hollywood community and around the world must stand with Israel as it defends itself against a terrorist regime in Gaza that seeks Israel’s destruction,” Saban said. said.

Read the new letter below and the full list of signatories here.

The nightmare that Israelis feared for decades became a reality when Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israeli towns and villages.

Under the guise of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately at civilians, Hamas has killed and kidnapped innocent men, women and children. They kidnapped and killed babies and the elderly. They raped women and mutilated their bodies. Parading their bodies through the streets and on social media, they cowardly attacked the Supernova music festival, bringing death and destruction to an event that celebrated friendship and love.

This is terrorism. It’s bad. There is no justification or rationalization for Hamas’ actions. These are barbaric acts of terrorism that must be called out by all. They are a terrorist organization whose leaders call for the murder of Jews around the world.

CCFP calls on our friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry to speak out strongly against Hamas and do everything in their power to urge the terrorist organization to return the innocent hostages to their families.

As Israel takes the necessary steps to defend its citizens in the coming days and weeks, social media is being overrun with an orchestrated disinformation campaign led by Iran. We call on everyone to remember the terrible images that came out of Israel and not to reinforce their propaganda and not to fall for it.

Our thoughts are with all those experiencing unimaginable levels of fear and violence, and we hope for the day when Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.