“Free Palestine!” » or “I am on the side of Israel”: on Instagram, Hollywood celebrities have been taking a stand since the start of the war, at the risk of their brand image, scrutinized by millions of angry users. Israeli actress Gal Gadot – known for her role as Wonder Woman – posted her unwavering support for her country on Instagram on October 7, the day Hamas commandos massacred 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in Israel, and took some 240 others held hostage, taking them to the Gaza Strip.
“I stand with Israel, you should too,” she told her 109 million followers. The actress has since regularly published or shared content demanding the return of Israeli civilians detained by Hamas, attracting the approval of some and the wrath of others. “I am extremely disappointed with your position in favor of the genocide of the Palestinian people,” reacted one user, among hundreds of similar criticisms.