Over 900 Cinema Figures Sign Petition Accusing Israel of Gaza Genocide

Over 900 cinema figures, including iconic French actress Catherine Deneuve, have signed an open letter denouncing what they call a "genocide" in Gaza and criticizing the movie industry's silence on the issue. The petition, known as "Artists for Fatem," was sparked by the killing of Palestinian photojournalist Fatima (Fatem) Hassouna, who died in an Israeli airstrike along with 10 relatives, shortly after a documentary about her premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Signatories include prominent figures such as Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Danny Boyle, Rooney Mara, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Pedro Almodovar, Mark Ruffalo, and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who publicly showed support wearing a T-shirt bearing the names of killed Gaza children. The letter emphasizes the cultural community's duty to speak out against the violence and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has seen thousands of casualties since March 18. While Israel denies the genocide allegations, the letter calls for solidarity with the Palestinian people and highlights the need to demand the release of hostages held by Hamas. The initiative gained momentum during Cannes and reflects growing international concern within the arts community over the conflict's human toll.