Hollywood voices push back against Gaza-film boycott pledge

Hollywood is witnessing a widening rift over the Gaza war, with more than 1,200 entertainment industry figures signing a counter-letter that rejects a high-profile pledge to boycott Israeli films. The letter, organized by nonprofit groups Creative Community for Peace and The Brigade, directly challenges the call advanced by Film Workers for Palestine, which has drawn thousands of signatures across the industry. The counter-letter’s backers include Liev Schreiber, Debra Messing, Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel, Erin Foster and Gene Simmons, among others, and they insist the boycott would mislead audiences and erase artistic voices.

Signatories include Liev Schreiber, Debra Messing, Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel, Erin Foster and Gene Simmons, who lent their names to the letter organized by Creative Community for Peace and The Brigade. The statement opens by invoking the power of cinema: "We know the power of film. We know the power of story. That is why we cannot stay silent when a story is turned into a weapon, when lies are dressed up as justice, and when artists are misled into amplifying antisemitic propaganda." The letter argues that the boycott pledge is "not an act of conscience" but instead "a document of misinformation that advocates for arbitrary censorship and the erasure of art." It adds that Israeli film institutions are not government entities, but are "often the loudest critics of government policy"—a point it illustrates with Israel’s recent Academy Award submission, The Sea, about a Palestinian boy who risks death to visit a Tel Aviv beach. The project drew backlash from Israel’s sports and culture minister, who pledged to cut funding for the country’s national film awards. The letter also emphasizes the collaborations between Jewish and Palestinian creatives within Israel’s film community, describing it as a "vibrant hub" where artists work together daily to tell complex, often critical stories.

The open letter arrives as the September 8 pledge by Film Workers for Palestine—backed by nearly 5,000 signatures—calls on artists to refuse partnerships with Israeli film institutions it deems implicated in genocide and apartheid against Palestinians. In its message, the boycott group argued that in a moment when governments are enabling carnage in Gaza, the artistic community must address complicity in that horror. Critics of the boycott say it risks silencing dissent and curbing dialogue rather than fostering understanding. Paramount Pictures, among others, has condemned such censorship, stating that "silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace. We need more engagement and communication— not less." The counter-letter’s backers argue that the arts should serve as a bridge, not a blockade, urging peers to reject discrimination and antisemitism and to demand accountability for violence regardless of nationality.

Debra Messing, in her own statement, said, "When artists boycott fellow artists based solely on their country of origin, it is blatant discrimination and a betrayal of our role as storytellers." Mayim Bialik echoed that sentiment, adding: "Boycotting Israelis fuels division and marginalization. This pledge does nothing to end the war in Gaza, free hostages, or curb antisemitism." Others joined in support of dialogue and collaboration. Rebecca De Mornay asserted that singling out Israel amounts to a double standard for Jews and an unjust punishment of Israeli artists, while Haim Saban, the Saban Entertainment chief, argued that true progress comes when Israelis and Palestinians listen to one another and that art can open doors politics often close.

The counter-letter also quotes a broader call to action: to support film-makers who foster dialogue across divides, advocate for the release of hostages held by Hamas, and let art speak the whole truth. It closes by urging colleagues across the industry to reject what it calls a discriminatory and antisemitic boycott that would only impede peace. The dispute reflects a broader debate within Hollywood over how to respond to the conflict in Gaza—whether to use storytelling to illuminate moral complexity and promote engagement, or to apply collective industry pressure through boycotts and cancellations. As studios and independent producers navigate these tensions, the conversation underscores the enduring tension between art, politics and conscience in the entertainment world.