In response to the Israel-Palestine war, over 2,000 artists and celebrities, including Tilda Swinton, Steve Coogan, Miriam Margolyes, and many others, have accused Western governments of 'aiding and abetting' Israel's 'war crimes' in Gaza. They have called for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of Gaza's crossings to allow humanitarian aid to enter without hindrance.
The signatories of this letter include prominent figures from the entertainment industry, such as actors and directors like Michael Winterbottom, Mike Leigh, and Asif Kapadia, as well as authors like Marina Warner, Jacqueline Rose, and Gillian Slovo.
The letter strongly condemns the actions of Western governments, stating that they are not only tolerating war crimes but also assisting in them. It emphasizes the need to put an end to the suffering in Gaza and highlights that Gaza is a society of refugees and the children of refugees.
The artists also reference comments made by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who described Palestinians as 'human animals.' They criticize the complete siege of Gaza, which has led to a dire humanitarian situation with a lack of water, power, food, and medicine for the 2.3 million Palestinians in the enclave.
The letter concludes by mentioning the high human cost of the conflict, with thousands of people killed in Gaza and Israel, including a significant number of children.