Gal Gadot Said She's "An Indigenous Person Of Israel" And Reacted To Backlash She's Faced
The actor was born in Israel and served in the IDF for two years, as Israeli law compels most of its citizens to do so. When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 and taking 251 people hostage, Gal wrote on Instagram, "I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!" Over 46,000 Palestinians have been estimated to have been killed by subsequent Israeli attacks.
Currently, Gal's Instagram bio is a link to the group Bring Them Home Now, a volunteer-led organization campaigning for the release of Israeli hostages. 'After October 7th [2023], I don't talk politics — because who cares about the celebrity talking about politics? I'm an artist," she told Variety in a new interview. "I want to entertain people. I want to bring hope and be a beacon of light whenever I say anything about the world."
'But on October 7th, when people were abducted from their homes, from their beds, men, women, children, elderly, Holocaust survivors, were going through the horrors of what happened that day, I could not be silent. I was shocked by the amount of hate, by the amount of how much people think they know when they actually have no idea, and also by how the media is not fair many times. So I had to speak up," she continued.
The Wonder Woman star explained, 'I'm not a hater. I'm a grandchild of a Holocaust survivor who came to Israel and established his family from scratch after his entire family was erased in Auschwitz. And on the other side of my family, I'm eighth generation Israeli. I'm an indigenous person of Israel.'
'I am all about humanity and I felt like I had to advocate for the hostages," she said. On the backlash she's faced, she added, 'When your compass is clear, your conscience is clean. I know what I'm advocating for, and I know what I wish for the world.'
'I am praying for better days for all,' she said. 'I want everybody to have good life and prosperity, and the ability to raise their children in a safe environment.'
Last night, Israel bombed Gaza, killing over 400 people and injuring 500 (many of them women and children), ending the ceasefire. UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, said the 'airstrikes and shelling, which killed hundreds, are horrifying. This nightmare must end immediately.'
You can read the full interview with Gal here.
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