Hollywood actors call for release of those held hostage by Hamas in open letter to Joe Biden

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, a host of Hollywood celebrities, artists, and entertainment executives have come together, urging US President Joe Biden to press for a ceasefire in the embattled regions and to ensure the safe release of hostages. The stars have also signed a heartfelt letter thanking President Biden for his leadership amid the escalating crisis.

This star-studded list of celebrities includes Bradley Cooper, Courteney Cox, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Bob Odenkirk, Constance Wu, Tiffany Haddish, Aubrey Plaza, Zack Snyder, Shawn Levy, Susan Sarandon, Kristen Stewart, Quinta Brunson, Ramy Youssef, Riz Ahmed, Mahershala Ali, and many others. These influential figures lent their voices to a call for peace and the safe return of those held captive.

The initiative was spearheaded by a group of Hollywood leaders who have come together under the banner of ‘No Hostage Left Behind.’ The aim is clear: to bring attention to the dire situation in Israel and Gaza and to advocate for an immediate ceasefire, along with the safe release of hostages.

In a passionate letter addressed to President Biden, the celebrities wrote, “We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honour all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay – an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages. We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. As (UN) Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told UN News, ‘History is watching.'”

The letter reflects the relief felt upon the recent release of American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan, and the release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, even as their husbands remain in captivity. However, the celebrities expressed their deep concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, are still held captive by terrorists and face the grave threat of torture and death.

Beyond their call for a ceasefire and hostage release, the letter also extended gratitude to President Biden for his unwavering moral conviction and support for both Jewish and Palestinian people. It emphasises a shared desire for freedom and peace for both communities, highlighting the urgent need to put an end to the violence spread by Hamas.

The letter closes with an appeal for humanitarian aid to reach those affected by the conflict in Gaza, where conditions have become dire due to Israel’s bombardment. 

The brutal attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7 resulted in the loss of 1,400 lives and the taking of about 200 hostages. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza, leading to the tragic death of over 4,100 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

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. 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.

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.

We urge everyone to not rest until all hostages are released. No hostage can be left behind. Whether American, Argentinian, Australian, Azerbaijani, Brazilian, British, Canadian, Chilean, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Eritrean, Filipino, French, German, Indian, Israeli, Italian, Kazakh, Mexican, Panamanian, Paraguayan, Peruvian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, South African, Spanish, Sri Lankan, Thai, Ukrainian, Uzbekistani or otherwise, we need to bring them home.

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