A handful of Hollywood stars, including Madonna, Chris Rock and Amy Schumer, launch formal campaign called #NoHostageLeftBehind which calls for the release of all hostages by the terrorist group.
- Oct 24, 2023
AceShowbiz - Hollywood stars are taking the conflict in the Middle East seriously. While some of them have previously expressed their stance on the situation, a number of actors, comedians and entertainment executives have now launched formal campaign called #NoHostageLeftBehind.
In an open letter addressed to President Joe Biden on Monday, October 23, the likes of Justin Timberlake, Bradley Cooper, Chris Rock, Tiffany Haddish, Amy Schumer, Katy Perry and Gwyneth Paltrow called for the release of all hostages taken by terrorist group Hamas.
Following the release of four hostages in recent days, they wrote, "We are heartened by Friday's release of the two American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan and by today's release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husbands remain in captivity."
"But our relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death," it continued to read. "They were taken by Hamas in the savage massacre of October 7, where over 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered - women raped, families burned alive, and infants beheaded."
Praising President Biden for his efforts, they added, "Thank you for your unshakable moral conviction, leadership, and support for the Jewish people, who have been terrorized by Hamas since the group's founding over 35 years ago, and for the Palestinians, who have also been terrorized, oppressed, and victimized by Hamas for the last 17 years that the group has been governing Gaza."
"We all want the same thing: Freedom for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace. Freedom from the brutal violence spread by Hamas. And most urgently, in this moment, freedom for the hostages," they implored.
"We urge everyone to not rest until all hostages are released. No hostage can be left behind," they stressed, noting that regardless where they come from, "we need to bring them home."
The letter was also signed by Madonna, Jessica Biel, Chelsea Handler, Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Tyler Perry, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs as well as some Hollywood execs namely Amy Pascal, Greg Berlanti and Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz.
