“I pray for our leaders to find the solution so we could live side by side in peace,” says Gal Gadot
The Israeli actress Gal Gadot has been widely criticised following a statement she posted on social media about the violent attacks in Israel.
Gadot shared a post on Instagram and Twitter which called for the hostility to end and for a solution to enable the two sides to live together in peace.
This comes after Palestinian militants said they fired 130 missiles at Tel Aviv in response to an Israeli air strike which hit a huge tower block in Gaza.
The 36-year-old actress, who has carried out mandatory service for Israel’s army in the past, said in a statement that she was heartbroken that her country is “at war” and that she is praying for the victims of the attacks and their families.
Gadot added that she hoped the country’s leaders could find a “solution” that would enable the two sides to live in harmony.
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) May 12, 2021
However, critics were quick to hit back at Gal Gadot for her previous military role, accusing the actress of showing support for “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide.”
On Twitter, one user responded:
Reminder Gal Gadot served in the IDF for two years where she not only witnessed the ethnic cleansing of Palestine firsthand but also actively supported it. How can you advocate to stop the vicious cycle of terror when you are a very part of it.#GazaUnderAttack https://t.co/nLmBbhbKSv
— khaled 𓅓 (@hoeglizzi) May 12, 2021
Another user said in response to her post:
Denying Palestinians even a shred of compassion by refusing to acknowledge them and their suffering is a common tactic employed by their oppressors. https://t.co/6EOZSfoELE
— Tamoor Hussain (@tamoorh) May 13, 2021
Other Twitter users criticised the actress for claiming that her country was “at war.”
Wonder shall never end. Your country isn’t at war, Madam. It’s perpetrating a televised and documented ethnic cleansing. https://t.co/BnCB5Xvenb
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) May 13, 2021
your country is not at war gal gadot. it is systematically killing and displacing palestinian families. 40 palestinian children injured and 10 children have been murdered by israeli forces. it's not a war, it's genocide. #GazaUnderAttack #PrayForPalestinehttps://t.co/Cc8eC9RjrS
— hourly taejin (@hourIytaejin) May 12, 2021
Leaders from around the world have urged both Israel and the Palestinians to retreat from the violence, following the recent violent attacks.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter: “I am urging Israel and the Palestinians to step back from the brink and for both sides to show restraint. The UK is deeply concerned by the growing violence and civilian casualties and we want to see an urgent de-escalation of tensions.”
I am urging Israel and the Palestinians to step back from the brink and for both sides to show restraint. The UK is deeply concerned by the growing violence and civilian casualties and we want to see an urgent de-escalation of tensions.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) May 12, 2021
