The group Artists4Ceasefire put up an Instagram post recently that calls for the United States to halt weapons sales. If you think that this is a general message of peace that applies to all war-torn regions, you would be disappointed to know that it specifically and solely references U.S. sales to Israel.
The group’s logo is an orange hand in a blood-red circle spotted on pins in this year’s Oscars worn by Mark Ruffalo, Billie Eilish and others. Signatories on its website include several well-known talents like Cynthia Nixon, Joaquin Phoenix, Tom Hardy, Brian Cox and Cate Blanchett.
The post briefly mentions the 1,200 Israelis killed and more than 200 hostages taken on Oct. 7 before quoting Hamas data on Palestinian deaths and displacement. While the suffering on both sides is real, Artists4Ceasefire calls for action in the wrong direction.
The statement does not press for Hamas’s surrender or for Egypt to stop arms-smuggling tunnels into the Gaza Strip. Nor does it address sanctions against Iran, which financially and militarily supports Hamas and its allies. The group is affiliated with the Red Cross even though the so-called humanitarian organization has failed to check on and aid the innocent Israeli hostages.
Hamas’s illegal and immoral actions, including commandeering schools and hospitals for military use, storing weapons in nurseries, stealing and interfering with the distribution of food, and using civilians as human shields all violate human rights and international law. Israel, meanwhile, attempts to evacuate civilians from military targets.
Supplying arms to Israel, which is fighting terrorism and defending against future attacks, is legal under the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, section 502. A weapons embargo would give meaningful assistance, not just to Hamas, but also to the Houthis, Hezbollah, Syria, Iraq, the Palestinian Authority and Iran. By overlooking these crucial points, the group’s backers risk becoming unwitting accomplices in the war against the Jewish homeland.
It is impossible to say how much each member of the group knows about the history of the region or how many times the Palestinians have rejected a two-state solution and peace. Artists4Ceasefire is not a monolithic entity with a singular motive and intention.
Some members, like celebrities Jon Stewart, John Cusack, Susan Sarandon and Mark Ruffalo, have a history of one-sided criticism of Israel. In my book, Artists Under Fire, I refer to such individuals as “Israel Bashers.” Others in the group, like Connie Britton, Jordan Peele, Drake and Jennifer Lopez, have previously supported Israel or the Jewish people, which can come with personal or professional risks.
In 2019, Lopez faced intense pressure to cancel a concert in Tel Aviv as part of her 50th birthday world tour. Despite the backlash, she went ahead with the performance and shared her visit to Israel with her 93 million Instagram followers. The decision came at a cost—her next show in Cairo saw a significant drop in ticket sales, with only 2,000 attendees compared to her usual 50,000 to 60,000.
Many members may simply be attempting to telegraph that they are anti-war. Others may have joined the chorus of a weapons ban because of their progressive politics. Anti-Israel advocates have created a false symmetry between the Palestinians and marginalized groups in the West, feeding into an anti-Israel bias. They exploit Western guilt over European colonization, for which Israel bears no responsibility.
Although artists may appear to us to lead extraordinary lives, they get their information the same way the rest of us do—through often biased mainstream news and social media. Emotionally manipulative images without context foster a rush to judgment. TV-segment titles and news headlines invert facts and provide cover for Hamas atrocities against its own people.
Artists are entitled to their opinions but as public figures, especially those with prominent platforms, they need to understand the ramifications of their public statements.
By pressuring the West to halt arms sales to Israel, Artists4Ceasefire risks emboldening groups like Hamas, whose tactics maximize civilian suffering on both sides. If Israel’s enemies believe that such Western pressure played a role in curbing Israel’s defense, it could encourage further violence, perpetuating the cycle of death and destruction rather than bringing about peace.
