Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem
Photo: Reuters
Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem denounce Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Group of Spanish film stars, directors, musicians and writers issue open letter blaming Israel for new round of violence in Middle East.
A group of Spanish film stars, directors, musicians and writers – led by actress Penélope Cruz, her husband Javier Bardem, and director Pedro Almodovar – has issued an open letter denouncing Israel over its invasion of the Gaza Strip
and referring to its actions as "genocide."
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Spanish entertainment industry representatives called on the European Union to "condemn the bombing by land, sea and air against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip."
Other signatories include musician Nacho Campillo and actors Lola Herrera, Eduardo Noriega and Rosa Maria Sarda.
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They also demanded a ceasefire by the IDF and urged Israel to "lift the blockade, which the Gaza Strip has suffered for more than a decade."
The letter, which was published in several Spanish media outlets, said that "Gaza is living through horror these days, besieged and attacked by land, sea and air. Palestinians' homes are being destroyed, they are being denied water, electricity (and) free movement to their hospitals, schools and fields while the international community does nothing."
The Spanish artists blamed Israel for the new round of violence in the Middle East and criticized the Jewish state for "continuing to advance into and invade the Palestinian territories instead of returning to the 1967 borders."
Actor Javier Bardem is a known political activist who frequently expounds on controversial issues, the Hollywood Reporter said. Together with Cruz and Almodovar, he is joining many other international artists who have condemned the Israeli operation in Gaza, including actors Mia Farrow and John Cusack and musicians Eddie Vedder and Annie Lennox.
