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Israeli actress Gal Gadot did not turn up to her own screening of a film documenting the Hamas attack on her native country.
Called Bearing Witness, the 43-minute film was described as "extremely graphic and violent." Gadot reportedly helped organize a special screening of the film in Hollywood on Wednesday.
The movie depicted the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel which killed 1,400 and lead to an unrelenting air raid and ground military operations by the government on the Gaza Strip. The death toll in the Palestinian territory has surpassed 10,500, including more than 4,300 children, according to the Associated Press. More than 160 people have been killed in the occupied West Bank since October 7.
However, the Wonder Woman star who has been a vocal supporter of Israel did not attend the screening, according to a report inThe Jerusalem Post, but did not indicate the reason for her absence.
Gadot did not attend out of concerns for her own safety, according to a report in Israeli-based i24NEWS.
"The screenings were provided by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) with Amnon Shefler (IDF International spokesperson) and organized and sponsored by venture capitalist Sara Greenberg and communications person Melissa Zukerman with support from the ADL and AJC," Zukerman told Newsweek in a statement.
"Guy Nattiv, Gal Gadot and others helped to raise awareness. Gadot was not in attendance."
While Gadot was not in attendance, her film producer husband, Yaron Varsano, and Bearing Witness' director Guy Nattiv were.
"Gal Gadot and her husband, Yaron Varsano, helped make this possible," Nattiv said, per i24NEWS.
The actress faced backlash for the screening which was attended by around 200 people, including an IDF official, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations and Hollywood executives.
A brawl broke out between two opposing groups outside the screening, with local news reporting punches were thrown and pepper spray used.
A heavy police presence guarded the event, whose location was only shared online shortly before the screening.
People reacted to her absence on social media.
"How was it 'her screening' if she wasn't there," wrote one person on X, formerly Twitter.
Since the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out, Gadot, who served in the IDF for two years, has regularly posted about the situation to her more than 100 million followers on Instagram.
"I stand with Israel you should too," she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the Star of David. "The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!"
Gadot has also used her social media to call for the release of the more than 240 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 and being held in Gaza.
"Over 240 hostages, including 30 children, are still being held captive by Hamas. This is a prayer from Broadway to bring them home. #bringthemhome," she captioned an Instagram post on Wednesday alongside a short video about the hostages.
The actress has faced fierce support, but also criticism for her stance, including from former adult star, Mia Khalifa, who dubbed Gadot "Genocide Barbie."
Khalifa shared a screenshot of a Paper magazine headline from more than two years ago, which read: "Mia Khalifa Dubs Gal Gadot 'Genocide Barbie' After Israel-Palestine Statement," to her X account.
"I've been trying to tell y'all....," she captioned the post.
Update 11/10/23, 2:24 a.m. ET: This story was updated to include the statement by Melissa Zukerman.
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more