Jerry Seinfeld has travelled to Israel amid the country’s ongoing armed conflict with Hamas, joining the perceived small number of Hollywood celebrities who have openly expressed their support since the terror group’s attack on October 7th.
Per a report from The Jerusalem Post, the Jewish comedian landed in the Middle Eastern country on Monday accompanied with his wife and children in order to led his support to the families of the people who are either missing or still being held hostage by the Palestinian terror group.
The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum Headquarter issued a statement via their Bring Them Home Now initiative, addressing Seinfeld’s arrival and thanking the comedian for raising awareness about the current situation involving the hostages.
“Last night, acclaimed comedian Jerry Seinfeld landed in Israel. Upon his arrival, Seinfeld and his family came to the families’ headquarters for an emotional meeting with representatives of the families of the hostages as well as hostages who returned from Hamas captivity,” prefaced the statement.
It continued, “Seinfeld told the families that he feels a deep commitment to raising awareness around the world about the issue of the hostages, whose lives are in immediate danger. Hearing the stories, Seinfeld and his family were very moved, and it was evident that they were deeply affected by the experiences they heard from the family members and the released hostages.”
“We thank the Seinfeld family for their moving visit to the families’ headquarters and their unwavering support for the families of the hostages,” it added, concluding, “We are confident that their support will be a significant and important step in our shared mission to bring about the immediate and safe return home of all the hostages”
The comedian was quick to express his support for Israel following the surprise attack led by Hamas on October 7th, taking to social media to make his stance public and condemn the “atrocities” committed by the infamous Palestinian terror group.
“I lived and worked on a Kibbutz in Israel when I was 16 and I have loved our Jewish homeland ever since. My heart is breaking from these attacks and atrocities,” Seinfeld confessed.
He went on, “But we are also a very strong people in our hearts and minds. We believe in justice, freedom and equality. We survive and flourish no matter what.”
“I will always stand with Israel and the Jewish people,” Seinfeld concluded.
Unsurprisingly, the comedian’s post in support of Israel managed to draw the ire of pro-Palestinian protesters.
According to a report by Daily Orange, via Fox News, pro-Palestinian individuals gathered outside of the Landmark Theatre in New York to protest Seinfeld’s stand-up comedy show last week, reportedly accusing the comedian of being “complicit in genocide” after sharing the post to his social media.
Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot has also been accused of spreading “Zionist propaganda” for actively condemning the barbaric acts committed by Hamas. The Israel-born actress even helped organise a Hollywood screening featuring footage recorded by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the October 7th attack on Israel.
Gadot was quick to not only condemn the attacks and make her stance official but also to encourage her followers to support Israel, writing on Instagram, “I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!”
Steven Spielberg is also among the growing list of Hollywood celebrities who have used their platform to bring light to the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli citizens, issuing an official statement on via the University of South California’s Shoah Foundation; an organisation the prolific filmmaker founded in 1994.
“[Executive Director Chair of the USC Shoah Foundation] Rob Williams and the team at the USC Shoah Foundation are leading an effort that will ensure that the voices of survivors will act as a powerful tool to counter the dangerous rise of antisemitism and hate,” Spielberg declared.
He continued, “I never imagined I would see such unspeakable barbarity against Jews in my lifetime. Holocaust survivors are the most courageous and brave among us, and their accounts are a lasting testament to the resilience of the human spirit.”
“Both initiatives — recording interviews with survivors of the October 7 attacks and the ongoing collection of Holocaust testimony — seek to fulfill our promise to survivors: that their stories would be recorded and shared in the effort to preserve history and to work toward a world without antisemitism or hate of any kind. We must remain united and steadfast in these efforts.”
