Native Israeli actress Gal Gadot, famous for playing Wonder Woman among other roles, explained why she left behind her usual reticence in speaking about politics after the October 7, 2023, massacre in which the terrorist group Hamas and Gaza residents slaughtered over 1,220 Israelis: “I could not be silent.”
“There is a challenge for people to speak on social media because there is so much hate going on and so many bots and so many angry people that are looking for a cause,” Gadot told Variety.
“Who cares about the celebrity talking about politics?” Gadot, who has served in the Israel Defense Forces, asked rhetorically. “I’m an artist. 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 7, 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,” she declared. “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.”
“I’m not a hater,” she continued. “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. … 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. I want everybody to have good life and prosperity, and the ability to raise their children in a safe environment.”
On Tuesday, as Gadot was honored at a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, the festivities were delayed for 15 minutes when pro-Palestinian activists made enough trouble that police were called in.
On March 4, speaking at the Anti-Defamation League’s annual summit, Gadot stated, “Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews. … Here’s the thing: However much you tried to avoid it before, even if speaking up wasn’t really your thing, none of us can ignore the explosion of Jew-hatred around the world anymore. … My name is Gal, and I’m Jewish, and we have had enough of Jew-hatred. On October 7, Jewish women were sexually terrorized, raped, murdered, and kidnapped by Hamas. We were all listening, hoping to hear support from our sisters around the world and too often heard silence. We can’t wait any longer; we can’t hold our breaths and pray or beg from support from people, groups, communities, that don’t want to be there for us. We need to be there for ourselves.”
The day of the October 7 massacre, Gadot wrote on Instagram:
At least 250 Israeli have been murdered and dozens of women children and elders held as hostages in Gaza, by Palestinian military group Hamas. Starting early morning more than 3,000 rockets were fire. Hamas is holding hostages, controlling bases and settlements in Israel. There have been more than 1,500 injured and heavy fighting is still ongoing “I hear their voices and they are banging on the door. I am with my two little children.” My heart is aching. Praying for all of those in pain.
Years after serving in the Israel military, Gadot said, “It was demanding because you give up your freedom for two years, but there is something special in giving back to your community.”
