Celebrities slammed for quiet response to Trump peace deal
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Hollywood’s most vocal “Free Palestine” advocates are facing scrutiny for their muted or critical response to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas secured by President Donald Trump.
Trump announced on October 8 that both sides had agreed to the first phase of a peace proposal, nearly two years after Hamas’ deadly terrorist attacks on Israel triggered a war in Gaza. Under the plan, Hamas agreed to release all 20 remaining live hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Israel releasing approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including approximately 250 convicted terrorists.
In his speech at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, Trump hailed the ceasefire in the Middle East as a “historic day”.
But many in Hollywood, including members of campaigns such as Artists4CEasefire and Film Workers for Palestine, who had repeatedly called for a ceasefire throughout the conflict, either remained silent or criticized the move; few acknowledged Trump’s role in enabling it.
Billie Eilish wears a pro-Gaza pin from Artists4Ceasefire while attending the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
HAMAS ACCEPTED TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN TO END THE 2-YEAR WAR IN GAZA AND RETURN THE HOSTAGES
Pro-Israel actor and comedian Michael Rapaport was among those who noticed. He called out many celebrities who he said were now “silent” about the ceasefire and accused them of engaging in “performance” activism at an October 11 protest. Facebook post.
“NOW the ceasefire has come, where are these people?” Rapaport wrote and named the actors Mark Ruffalo, John Cusack, Hannah Einbinder, Javier Bardem and singer Lorde. “The war in Gaza is ending. The so-called ‘genocide’ is over. Because it was never about peace. It was about performance.”
Columnist Paula Froelich also criticized a dozen celebrities who publicly called for a “Free Palestine” and an “immediate ceasefire” or wore red hand badges at the 2024 Oscars. Since then, many people have remained silent about the peace agreement or continue to blame Israel “for all the atrocities that have occurred in the last two years,” Froelich said.
“If I were less charitable, I might argue that Hollywood celebrities care more about a performance-based comedy berating Israel and our president than about seeing a Free Palestine happen in real time. How’s that for hypocrisy?” He wrote in his column in the British newspaper Times.
Rachel Zegler, the lead actress of “Snow White”, became a lightning rod for controversy when she expressed her views on the Israel-Gaza war and Trump voters. In an August 2024 post about the trailer for “Snow White,” the actress wrote: “And always remember, free Palestine.” (VALERIE MACON / Contributor)
‘Snow White’ Actress RACHEL ZEGLER IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT HOW HER VIEWS ON GAZA WILL AFFECT HER CAREER
Some supporters of the “Free Palestine” movement argue that the ceasefire does not fully resolve the humanitarian crisis or allegations accusing Israel of genocide.
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives of Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, Billie Eilish, Rachel Zegler and Lorde, who publicly support the Artists4Ceasefire or Free Palestine movements, for comment on the ceasefire and Rapaport’s criticism, but did not receive a response.
A few actors spoke about the peace agreement, but not very positively. John Cusack, who has faced criticism from an anti-Semitism watchdog in the past, mocked the ceasefire as a “photo op” for Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“For anyone who believes for a moment that Netanyahu will stop killing: A bridge is up for sale in Brooklyn,” Cusack wrote on October 14. “He’ll give Trump the photo op and then move on.” added In the post, he accused both leaders of using the agreement for political gain.
Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who wore a keffiyeh to the 2025 Emmy Awards, called the ceasefire “very good news” in his Instagram post, but said it was “in no way a fair plan for the rights and future of the Palestinian people.” He also shared a clip from MSNBC’s “The Weekend”; guest Noura Erakat claims Trump’s Gaza plan is ‘just another way to proceed’ [Israel’s] job.”
Javier Bardem wore a keffiyeh and declared “Free Palestine” on the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
JAVIER BARDEM EXPLAINED HIS ‘OPINION’ THAT HE BELIEVES ISRAEL HAS COMMITTED ‘GENOCIDE’ IN GAZA
“Hacks” actress Hannah Einbinder, who made headlines earlier this year for yelling “F— ICE and free Palestine” during her 2025 Emmy Awards acceptance speech, reposted several messages from other accounts questioning whether the ceasefire would hold. One warned that “there is no guarantee that this genocide will stop”, while another criticized the peace terms.
Other celebrities expressed cautious optimism. Progressive actors Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon shared a statement from Artists4Ceasefire on October 10, calling the agreement “an immediate and heartening moment of relief.”
The group added: “This brings hope that precious lives can be saved and that Israel will end the bombing and intentional starvation of Palestinian civilians, that all hostages have returned safely and that desperately needed humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza. We harbor cautious hope that the ceasefire will last and will continue to demand that it be made permanent.”
Ahead of the agreement, more than 1,000 actors, directors and film workers signed a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions through the Palestinian Film Workers activist group.
Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon are two high-profile figures involved in the Artists4Ceasefire movement. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)
TRUMP WAS PRAISED BY MSNBC AND LIBERAL MEDIA FIGURES FOR SECURING THE ISRAEL PEACE DEAL
“Inspired by United Against Apartheid Filmmakers who refuse to show their films in apartheid South Africa, we pledge not to work with Israeli film institutions that commit genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people,” the group’s statement said. Signatories reportedly include Ruffalo, Emma Stone, Peter Sarsgaard, Lily Gladstone, Olivia Colman, Sarandon and Tilda Swinton.
The group posted a statement on Instagram on October 15 declaring that the boycott of Israel would continue “until Palestinians are no longer subjected to occupation, apartheid, and genocide.”
The post said, “This disaster, this genocide, did not end with a single ceasefire call. And it will not end as long as the perpetrators of this genocide continue to avoid accountability.” statements were included.
Despite the criticism, some actors openly praised the peace agreement.
Israeli-American actress Natalie Portman called it an “important day” when she appeared on stage at a film festival in France, saying: “It almost feels crazy to talk about anything other than celebrating—hopefully—peace.”
British actress Frances Barber also praised Trump for his role in the deal, writing about X: “I had TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome]and now I’m eating my words,” while reposting a photo showing a “Thank you” message to Trump written in the sand on a Tel Aviv beach.
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Fox News’ Hanna Panreck, Marc Tamasco and Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.
