Celebrities urge President Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza – in a letter signed by Barbie’s America Ferrera, Channing Tatum, Dua Lipa, Florence Pugh, Macklemore and more stars

•  Dozens of A-listers have come together to urge President Joe Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
•  As the conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its third week, many Hollywood stars pleaded with Biden, 80, to help de-escalate the crisis in Gaza and Israel
•  The signees expressed their belief that ‘the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering’

Dozens of celebrities, including A-listers like America Ferrera, Channing Tatum, Dua Lipa and Florence Pugh, have come together to urge President Joe Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. 

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its third week, many Hollywood stars pleaded with Biden, 80, to help de-escalate the crisis in Gaza and Israel.

The public figures, who created a group called Artists4Ceasefire, wrote an open letter to the president, which explains they have ‘come together as artists and advocates, but most importantly as human beings witnessing the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horrors in Israel and Palestine.’

‘We ask that, as President of the United States, you call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost,’ the group stated. ‘More than 5,000 people have been killed in the last week and a half – a number any person of conscience knows is catastrophic. We believe all life is sacred, no matter faith or ethnicity and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians.’

Speaking up: Dozens of celebrities, including A-listers like Channing Tatum, Dua Lipa, Florence Pugh and Cate Blanchett, have come together to urge President Joe Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

They continued: ‘We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor 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.’

The members of Artists4Ceasefire also pointed out that ‘half of Gaza’s two million residents are children, and more than two thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes.’ 

The signees are also asking Biden to help residents of Gaza access humanitarian aid and expressed their belief that ‘the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering.’

‘We believe that the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering and we are adding our voices to those from the US Congress, UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, The International Committee of The Red Cross, and so many others,’ the stars added. ‘Saving lives is a moral imperative.’

The letter included harrowing statistics, such as, ‘6,000 bombs have been dropped on Gaza’ since the the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented incursion from air, land and sea on Israel.

The bombings have reportedly led to ‘one child being killed every 15 minutes.’ 

‘Beyond our pain and mourning for all of the people there and their loved ones around the world we are motivated by an unbending will to stand for our common humanity. We stand for freedom, justice, dignity and peace for all people – and a deep desire to stop more bloodshed,’ the group concluded.

As for what prompted the stars’ letter, the signees said they ‘refuse to tell future generations the story of’ their silence or that they ‘stood by and did nothing.’

The plea was also signed by Cate Blanchett, Andrew Garfield, Jessica Chastain, Rachel McAdams, Shailene Woodley, Joaquin Phoenix, Jessie Williams, Kristen Stewart, Macklemore,  Alyssa Milano, Margaret Cho and many more performers.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its third week, many Hollywood stars pleaded with Biden, 80, to help de-escalate the crisis in Gaza and Israel (Biden seen on October 19, 2023 as he discussed the U.S.’s response to the Hamas-Israel conflict)

The public figures, who created a group called Artists4Ceasefire, wrote an open letter to the president, which explains they ‘come together as artists and advocates, but most importantly as human beings witnessing the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horrors in Israel and Palestine’ (Florence Pugh seen earlier this year in Paris signed her name)

Not backing down: Previously, one of the signees, America Ferrera, called for a ceasefire during a powerful speech at GLAMOUR’s Women of the Year Awards as she was honored as one of the publication’s Women of the Year

Previously, Ferrera, called for a ceasefire during a powerful speech at GLAMOUR’s Women of the Year Awards as she was honored as one of the publication’s Women of the Year.

‘All of our sisters are not safe,’ she said. ‘Like all of you, my heart is broken and heavy with the weight of what our sisters around the world endure every day. And as we sit here tonight celebrating, our sisters and their families in Gaza and Israel are living through horror. 

Ferrera continued: ‘The brutality of terror and war is unfolding before our eyes. Entire families have been and continue to be erased.’ 

‘We can demand that hostages be released and safely returned to their families. We must demand that our world leaders deliver a ceasefire and an immediate humanitarian response in Gaza and Israel. We must save our sisters. We must let the children live in peace. May we all find the courage to use our voices.’

During the event, Hannah Waddingham, also pleaded for peace in Israel and Gaza.

‘If any of us can give whatever you can. However small to the women in the world who are fighting to keep their children,’ she told the audience. ‘Then if you could do that one thing tonight, if you could just do it before you go to bed, anything then I would be eternally grateful.’ 

‘We ask that, as President of the United States, you call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost. More than 5,000 people have been killed in the last week and a half – a number any person of conscience knows is catastrophic. We believe all life is sacred, no matter faith or ethnicity and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians,’ the group stated

On Monday, however, Biden did not call for a cease-fire.

Instead, he told Hamas to release the hostages its militants took captive from Israel – ‘then we’ll talk.’ 

He made the remark at the White House moments after reports that Hamas had released two hostages held inside Gaza after the Oct. 7 terror attack, bringing the total released to four.

He was asked about having hostages released for a ceasefire at the tail end of an event on his economic agenda.

The members of Artists4Ceasefire also pointed out that ‘half of Gaza’s two million residents are children, and more than two thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes’ (Andrew Garfield pictured in 2023)

‘We believe that the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering and we are adding our voices to those from the US Congress, UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, The International Committee of The Red Cross, and so many others,’ the stars added. ‘Saving lives is a moral imperative’ (Rachel McAdams seen in April 2023 also signed)

The plea was also signed by Cate Blanchett, Macklemore (pictured this year), Jessica Chastain, Joaquin Phoenix, Jessie Williams, Kristen Stewart, Macklemore, Alyssa Milano, Margaret Cho and many more performers

Looking for peace: Shailene Woodley also signed the letter (seen earlier this month)

Israel is demanding the release of all of the estimated 200 hostages seized during the cross-border raid by Hamas fighters. It has called up reserves and massed forces on the border, while pounding targets inside Gaza.

Biden ended his remarks, at a an event meant to tout his ‘Bidenomics’ agenda, by referencing a national security development.

‘I apologize, I have to go to the Situation Room for another issue I have to deal with,’ he said. 

His event began nearly an hour after the scheduled start time Monday, following the first news reports of the release of an additional pair of hostages. 

Hamas released two American terrorists last week as the Biden administration negotiated to help secure the first convoy of humanitarian aid to Gaza.   

The president spoke as protesters have called for a cease fire, while some ‘squad’ members have accused both Hamas and the Israeli government of ‘war crimes.’

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said repeatedly Monday that the administration’s objective was to get Israel the tools it needs, while getting aid to Palestinian people inside Gaza and secure the release of hostages.

The latest figure for Americans still unaccounted for after October 7 is ten, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Kirby repeated that number Monday. He said the number of Americans believed to be held captive is still ‘about a handful.’ 

As for what prompted the stars’ letter, the signees said they ‘refuse to tell future generations the story of’ their silence or that they ‘stood by and did nothing’ (Gaza pictured on October 24)

The letter included harrowing statistics that since the the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented incursion from air, land and sea on Israel, resulting in the death of at least 1,400 people, ‘6,000 bombs have been dropped on Gaza’ (rescuers pictured pulling a child out of the rubble of a building hit in an air strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip)

At the briefing, he was asked about a call by UN agencies for a ‘humanitarian cease fire.’ 

‘What we want right now is make sure Israel has the tools it needs to defend itself and to go after Hamas. And that humanitarian assistance keeps flowing. Now it’s started and it’s a good thing. We want to keep it going and keep it sustainable. That’s what we’re focused on. 

He didn’t answer directly when asked if Israel was abiding by international law. President Biden has repeatedly said the U.S. has Israel’s back, while also speaking publicly about the importance of democracies following the rules of war.

‘We’re not going to parcel out each and every event that happens on the battlefield, especially since we’re not there,’ said Kirby. ‘I can just tell you that there hasn’t been a conversation that we’ve had with Israeli counterparts – and we’ve had them at all levels – where we aren’t talking about not just what they want to do, but how they want to do it,’ Kirby said.

A crisis: The bombings have reportedly resulted in the death of ‘one child being killed every 15 minutes’ (smoke rises as after an airstrike hit Rafah, Gaza, pictured above)

Biden was also asked about his conversation with Pope Francis. According to the Holy See the two spoke for 20 minutes Sunday about ‘the need to identify paths to peace.’

‘The pope and I are on the same page,’ said Biden. He said the Pope was ‘very interested’ in the crises we are facing, including in Israel.

Biden said he ‘laid out to him what the game plan was,’ including providing assistance that Israel needed.

‘The pope was across the board supportive,’ Biden said.

According to an official White House readout released Sunday, Biden ‘condemned the barbarous attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians, affirmed the need to protect civilians in Gaza, and discussed his efforts to ensure delivery of food and medicine into Gaza, as well as the need to ‘prevent escalation’ and work toward ‘durable peace.’

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