The Crown’s Khalid Abdalla calls for peace in Palestine once again at Emmy Awards
The British actor had "Never Again" inked on his palm at the award show.
The 96th Academy Awards took place on Sunday and while Hollywood’s most glamorous night was underway, some celebrities and activists still stood in solidarity with Gaza, remembering the plight of Palestine.
Here is everything pro-Palestine that happened at the Oscars.
Numerous celebrities were spotted wearing the Artists for Ceasefire pin, which is emblematic of an open letter written to US President Joe Biden calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The letter has been signed by hundreds of artists, however, only a few were seen wearing the pin.
Speeches calling for a ceasefire were few and far between — only two came to our attention.
British director Jonathan Glazer condemned the Israeli occupation of Gaza after winning the Best International Feature Film award for The Zone of Interest — which follows the story of a Nazi camp commandant who lives next to the Auschwitz concentration camp.
“We stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people,” he stated during his speech.
The Poor Things actor, who has consistently vocalised his support for Gaza, said that artists with the red Artists for Ceasefire pin were calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as well as peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine.
“It’s a universal message of just let’s stop killing kids. Let’s not be part of more war. No one’s ever looked back at war and thought a bombing campaign was a good idea,” he said.
Youssef maintained that the list of artists supporting a ceasefire was growing and a lot of people would be wearing the pins because they wanted to use their position to “speak to people’s hearts”.
Reuters reported that as stars began arriving to walk the red carpet, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters angered by Israeli aggression in Gaza shouted and slowed traffic in the blocks surrounding the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held.
“While you’re watching, bombs are dropping,” one sign read.
The Avengers actor Ruffalo praised the protesters as he entered the theatre and raised a clenched fist. “We need peace,” he said.
Pro-Palestine organisation Jewish Voice for Peace stated that hundreds of Jews, allies, members from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists supporting the ceasefire and film workers for Palestine were all present in the heart of Hollywood.
“While Hollywood celebrates, Israel prepares for the ground invasion of Rafah, where over 1.3 million Palestinians are seeking refuge. This comes as reports of extreme hunger continue to mount on the first day of Ramadan,” they said, adding that the protesters stood in solidarity with Palestine.
“We won’t stop bearing witness. WHILE YOU’RE WATCHING, BOMBS ARE DROPPING.”