When the Israeli war on Gaza erupted on 7 October, the Arab cultural scene was the first to respond—initially through event cancellations in solidarity with Palestine, then by spotlighting Palestinian voices in music, concerts, and film festivals.
Artists released songs, wore keffiyehs, called for a ceasefire, and festivals incorporated Palestinian stories into their programming.
While the Arab world reacted loudly, the international scene approached the Gaza tragedy cautiously, balancing truth against the personal risks of speaking out. Early gestures—such as a red lapel pin introduced by Artists4Ceasefire to show solidarity with Gaza—remained largely symbolic, with the creatives careful not to endanger their careers.
Facing the fear
Artists4Ceasefire emerged as the first collective of global entertainers calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Challenging the fear to speak up, on 20 October 2023, they issued an open letter to then-US President Joe Biden, urging "immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost." Early signatories included Hollywood stars such as Cate Blanchett, Joaquin Phoenix, Juliette Binoche, Ramy Youssef, Susan Sarandon, and Bradley Cooper, as well as musicians Annie Lennox, Ariana Grande, Drake, and Billie Eilish, among others.
The following month, Musicians for Palestine drafted an open letter to world leaders, urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian aid access, and an end to the siege. The text, including words such as 'a textbook case of genocide,' was signed by Tom Morello, Brian Eno, Kid Cudi, Kehlani, Macklemore, alongside a few thousand others before the 2023 dusk.
The artist-driven letters have been direct, unapologetically calling Israeli actions "genocide," "occupation," or "apartheid," and advocating not only for a ceasefire but also for cultural boycotts and solidarity. Meanwhile, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and PEN International, among others, opted for structured platforms, framing the issue in humanitarian and legal terms.
More palpable actions began emerging from the artists during the protests. In November 2023, Susan Sarandon spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York: "There are a lot of people that are afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country…" Her stance drew immediate backlash, and shortly after her speech, reports indicated that United Talent Agency dropped her as a client.
Then came a bold statement: Roger Waters himself! During a December 2023 concert in Bogotá, part of his This Is Not a Drill tour, he displayed a red backdrop reading "Stop the Genocide" and later, in a Santiago interview, called Israeli actions in Gaza "genocide." He also shared footage of raising the Palestinian flag during a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
Roger Waters performs during his tour "This Is Not a Drill" in Bogota on 5 December 2023. (Photo: AFP)
As harrowing images and mounting casualties accumulated in 2024, public opinion in many non-Arab countries began to shift. Large demonstrations and mass-signatory letters multiplied, opening the door to red-carpet activism — as the urgency to speak out slowly began to outweigh fear of backlash.
What began with 55 signatories on the initial Artists4Ceasefire letter had grown to over 380 by February 2024, ahead of the Oscars.
On 10 March, during the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, dozens of celebrities — from Billie Eilish to Mark Ruffalo — made subtle statements by wearing red lapel pins, while others, including Milo Machado-Graner and Swann Arlaud, wore buttons bearing the Palestinian flag.
On the red carpet, Ramy Youssef told the media, "We're all calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza." Outside the Dolby Theatre, pro-Palestinian protesters blocked roads, chanting, "Ceasefire now! Free Palestine."
Music as a weapon of protest
Musicians wore Palestinian scarves on stage and voiced support on social media. In May 2024, Dua Lipa posted on Instagram (via her Stories) to 88 million followers: "The whole world is mobilising to stop the Israeli genocide," sharing Artists4Ceasefire graphics and using hashtags like #AllEyesOnRafah, highlighting the escalating humanitarian tragedy in Rafah, southern Gaza.
British singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock and actresses Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Susan Sarandon led the international celebs who stood in solidarity with Rafah. Dozens of celebrities from Bollywood, including Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Priyanka Chopra (who is also a global Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF), joined the international outcry, sharing the campaign widely on social media.
In fact, social media, streaming platforms, international festivals, and cultural events amplified the conversation, reaching broader civil society and global audiences. Musicians, authors, and filmmakers increasingly signed open letters and petitions. By 2025, dozens of sector-specific statements urged governments, broadcasters, and festivals to reconsider their coverage of the conflict and acknowledge the scale of civilian harm.
The voices surged: in late May 2025, nearly 400 writers and organisations from the UK and Ireland launched an open letter condemning Israel's war in Gaza as "genocidal". Signatories included Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan, Irvine Welsh, and Elif Shafak.
Red carpet resistance
Film festivals have become vital platforms for amplifying Palestinian narratives, showcasing works that expose truths often overlooked by mainstream media. This shift was partially driven by Arab festivals, which intensified their focus on Palestine starting in 2023.
The Cairo International Film Festival cancelled its 2023 edition in solidarity with Palestine but returned in November 2024 with an intense spotlight on Palestinian cinema. In 2023, the El-Gouna Film Festival postponed its edition from October to December, running a Window on Palestine programme. The Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (October 2024, UAE) named Palestine its country of honour, while Carthage Film Festival (December 2024) featured a special programme, Palestine at the Heart of the JCC.
As images of Gaza's tragedy spread globally, a groundswell of films across Arab festivals paralleled—and propelled—their international acclaim. Major festivals from Berlin to Venice and Cannes awarded top honours to Palestinian films, recognising both their artistic power and the urgency of their stories.
Palestinian films have won top awards across both the Arab world and the international festival circuit. Happy Holidays (2024) earned the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay at Venice and the Golden Alexander at Thessaloniki, among other honours. Once Upon a Time in Gaza (2025), directed by brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, premiered in the Cannes Un Certain Regard section and won the Best Director award.
Toronto International Film Festival (September 2024) and the Chicago International Film Festival (October 2024) included Palestinian films in their competitive segments.
Equally, the 68th BFI London Film Festival (October 2024) showcased several Palestinian films, and the documentary Vibrations from Gaza, written and directed by Rehab Nazzal, won the Best Short Film award.
At the 2024 Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France, An Orange from Jaffa—a short about a Palestinian youth crossing an Israeli checkpoint—took the Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, several festivals, often self-funded initiatives dedicated to Palestinian films, emerged in 2024, including the Palestinian Independent Film Festival (Cyprus), the Palestinian Film Festival Amsterdam (The Netherlands), and the London Palestine Film Festival (UK), among others.
Historic moments
One of the biggest successes was No Other Land, which won both the Panorama Audience Award and the Berlinale Documentary Award at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival (February 2024). Co-directed by Palestinian Basel Adra and Israeli Yuval Abraham, the documentary chronicles the forced displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta (West Bank).
Its biggest triumph came in March 2025, when it won Best Documentary Feature at the 97th Academy Awards—the first Palestinian film to receive an Oscar. Onstage, the directors called Israel's actions "apartheid" and "genocide," marking a rare and historic moment of visibility for Palestine.
Festivals could no longer ignore pro-Palestinian voices. Beyond screenings, artists used these stages to sign petitions and speak out, while letters emerged from major festivals, including Berlinale, Cannes, and Venice.
In May 2025, over 600 figures from the creative industries—including film and theatre—signed an open letter urging the BBC to air the delayed documentary "Gaza: Medics Under Fire," arguing that editorial caution was suppressing political realities. Susan Sarandon was among the publicly named signatories.
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, produced by Basement Films (New Mexico) with British executive producer Ben de Pear, chronicles Palestinian medical workers in Gaza: hospitals bombed or raided, staff injured or detained, and healthcare delivered under extreme resource constraints amid war.
Then came an even stronger testimony to Israeli atrocities in Gaza: The Voice of Hind Rajab. Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film premiered at the 82nd Venice Film Festival (September 2025), where it won the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, following a record-breaking standing ovation lasting nearly 24 minutes.
Music never left the frontlines
The past months have clearly amplified Palestine's presence across the arts. Creative stances are appearing more frequently and in greater numbers.
Mo Chara, a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, facing legal challenges for his activism. During the band's performance at Coachella in April 2025, Kneecap projected "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people," among other slogans that contained explicit language condemning Israel. Mo Chara led the crowd in chanting "Free Palestine." The performance sparked both support and criticism.
Yet another activist, British musician Brian Eno, has already signed many letters condemning Israel's actions in Gaza, publicly supporting boycott and awareness campaigns. Most recently, he helped organise the Together for Palestine concert at London's Wembley Arena (17 September 2025). The high-profile fundraising event featured several international performers and served as a cultural solidarity action, with appearances by Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed, and Richard Gere.
A day after the concert, musicians and record labels launched No Music For Genocide (NMFG), a cultural boycott calling on artists to remove or geo-block their music from streaming platforms in Israel. The initiative frames itself as a response to Israel's actions in Gaza, the ethnic cleansing in the Occupied West Bank, apartheid within Israel, and political repression of pro-Palestine activism. NMFG initially garnered support from over 400 artists, including Massive Attack, Björk, and Kneecap.
These are just a few of hundreds of examples where artists and cultural institutions use their platforms to oppose Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. The key question now is whether Israel should participate in the Eurovision 2026 contest. A vote is expected soon amid growing calls for a ban from artists and activists across Europe.
Louder than ever
Two years after the first pins circulated, the international cultural scene has shifted in tangible ways. Open letters now draw thousands of signatories, musicians speak from their stages, and artists create pressure on the festivals to use the platforms to call for an end to the war in Gaza.
Artists worldwide continue to push for change, hoping their efforts will help end the Israeli war and prompt lasting policy reform.
What began as scattered voices of dissent has become a global chorus—steadily rising, unwavering in its call. Their voices will carry on, not in anger alone, but also in the deepening certainty that justice must be seen, heard, and lived.
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