On Tuesday, Artists for Palestine UK penned an open letter accusing Israel of "war crimes" while making no mention of the horrific actions taken by Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas.
Since it was released, over 3,000 artists have signed on, affirming the decidedly anti-Israel statements made therein. Among them are actress Tilda Swinton, actor Peter Mullen, and comedian Steve Coogan, the New York Post reports.
"We are witnessing a crime and a catastrophe," the letter begins. "Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble, and cut off the supply of water, power, food and medicine to 2.3 million Palestinians."
The group claimed that Palestinians "whose grandparents were forced out of their homes at the barrel of a gun are again being told to flee – or face collective punishment on an unimaginable scale."
"Our governments are not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them," they continued. "There will come a time when they are held to account for their complicity ... We demand that our governments end their military and political support for Israel’s actions. We call for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow humanitarian aid to enter unhindered."
Not mentioned in the lengthy letter are the innocent civilians murdered in Israel by Hamas on October 7, nor the hundreds more who have died since as the result of the group's terrorist attacks.
The letter quickly went viral, catching the attention of prominent British politicians and artists. Former director of Labour Friends of Israel David Mencer, for example, called it "drivel," and told the Telegraph, "I invite this group of misfits and weirdos to rescue their ailing careers and try their chances as artists in Gaza under the Hamas regime."
"I promise to sign a letter when they are locked up and beg for their release," he added.
Culture, Media and Sport Committee member Minister Giles Watling called the situation in the Middle East "very complicated," but noted that, "in this case, it is very important to present both sides of the issue."
Since it was released, over 3,000 artists have signed on, affirming the decidedly anti-Israel statements made therein. Among them are actress Tilda Swinton, actor Peter Mullen, and comedian Steve Coogan, the New York Post reports.
"We are witnessing a crime and a catastrophe," the letter begins. "Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble, and cut off the supply of water, power, food and medicine to 2.3 million Palestinians."
The group claimed that Palestinians "whose grandparents were forced out of their homes at the barrel of a gun are again being told to flee – or face collective punishment on an unimaginable scale."
"Our governments are not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them," they continued. "There will come a time when they are held to account for their complicity ... We demand that our governments end their military and political support for Israel’s actions. We call for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow humanitarian aid to enter unhindered."
Not mentioned in the lengthy letter are the innocent civilians murdered in Israel by Hamas on October 7, nor the hundreds more who have died since as the result of the group's terrorist attacks.
The letter quickly went viral, catching the attention of prominent British politicians and artists. Former director of Labour Friends of Israel David Mencer, for example, called it "drivel," and told the Telegraph, "I invite this group of misfits and weirdos to rescue their ailing careers and try their chances as artists in Gaza under the Hamas regime."
"I promise to sign a letter when they are locked up and beg for their release," he added.
Culture, Media and Sport Committee member Minister Giles Watling called the situation in the Middle East "very complicated," but noted that, "in this case, it is very important to present both sides of the issue."
"We must absolutely condemn the attacks of Hamas on Israel, yes, but of course, I have great sympathy for the Palestinian people and the suffering they have endured," he said.
