Waters appeared to deny the Hamas massacre in Israel, saying it was ‘blown out of proportion’ and that Israel was ‘making up stories’.
By Hezy Laing
While many Hollywood stars have voiced support for Israel and the IDF, others have spoken out against IDF actions, especially during conflicts involving Gaza.
Here are twelve celebrities who have been publicly critical of Israel, especially in the context of the war in Gaza.
Their views range from condemning IDF actions to supporting the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement.
Here are some notable examples:
Roger Waters
The Pink Floyd co-founder is one of the most vocal critics of Israel. He supports BDS and has compared Israeli policies to apartheid. Waters has appeared on stage dressed up like a Nazi SS officer and has incorporated antisemitic elements into his shows, including displaying a pig with a Star of David on it. Waters also appeared to deny the Hamas-led massacre in Israel, saying it was “blown out of proportion” and that Israel was “making up stories” about atrocities like beheaded babies.
Susan Sarandon
She has spoken at pro-Palestinian rallies and posted: “You don’t have to be Palestinian to care about what’s happening in Gaza.” In addition, Sarandon declared “I stand with Palestine. No one is free until everyone is free.” Afterwards Sarandon faced backlash and was dropped by her talent agency after her remarks.
Mark Ruffalo
The actor best known for portraying the Hulk in the Avengers movies has called for sanctions against Israel and accused it of apartheid. Ruffalo has compared Israel to South Africa tweeting, “Sanctions on South Africa helped free its black people – it’s time for sanctions on Israel to free Palestinians.” He has called for international pressure on the Jewish State.
Bella Hadid
The Arab supermodel has posted extensively in support of Palestinians and criticized Israeli military actions, becoming a prominent voice in the online discourse.
Annie Lennox
The British singer has supported pro-Palestinian causes and signed letters condemning Israeli actions in Gaza.
John Cusack
Actor John Cusack has faced accusations of antisemitism due to several controversial posts and statements he’s made, particularly in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Cusack shared posts denying that Hamas committed mass rapes during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. He also referred to Hamas as a “charitable organization”.
Natalie Portman
Though Israeli-born, Portman has repeatedly criticized the Israeli government and refused to attend a ceremony honoring her due to political concerns.
Emma Watson
The actress shared a post with the phrase “Solidarity is a verb” over a photo of pro-Palestinian protesters, sparking controversy.
Miriam Margolyes
Jewish actress Miriam Margolyes, known for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, made headlines in July 2025 for controversial remarks about Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. She even compared Israel to the Nazis. “The terrible thing I face is that Hitler won. He changed us, made us like him…. I cannot bear to think that my people are doing exactly the same thing to another nation. And the nation they are doing it to is the Palestinian nation.”
Joaquin Phoenix
Jewish actor Joaquin Phoenix has taken public stances on the Israel-Gaza conflict, particularly in 2025, though he hasn’t made detailed statements about Israel itself. His involvement has mostly come through open letters and advocacy efforts. In May 2025 Phoenix signed the Cannes Protest Letter a widely circulated letter condemning the film industry’s silence on what the signatories called “genocide in Gaza.”
John Oliver
HBO host and late-night comedian John Oliver has repeatedly used his platform to launch one-sided assaults on Israel, blaming the Jewish state for Gaza’s humanitarian crisis while completely omitting Hamas’s central role in creating and perpetuating the disaster.
