"To all the families I was lucky to meet some of you the other day," said Jewish actress Natalie Portman in a recorded video clip posted on the 'Bring Home Now' Instagram page. "I was so horrified at the experiences your family members had to go through and are still going through today.
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"I join you and the international community to end this humanitarian disaster and protect woman, children, the elderly and all the innocent people who are suffering right now. I'm with you, I cry with you, I hold you in my thoughts, I join you in this cry to bring them back now."
"Women were murdered and raped. Others were abducted from their homes in front of their children. Women's organizations have neglected their role and abandoned the hostages in Gaza. They must take a stand now!"
Concluding the post was a call to action, asking people to contact Sima Sami Bahous, the executive director of UN Women, along with her personal email address. "The heinous sexual crimes committed against Israeli women on October 7th by Hamas are war crimes and crimes against humanity. Distance yourself from these crimes. You are committed to preserving women's rights without distinction of religion, race, or gender," the post read.
Natalie Portman calls for the return of hostages held in Gaza
This isn't the first time Portman, an enthusiastic Israel supporter, spoke of the war in Gaza on social media. In mid-October, she opened a crowdfunding campaign to help the children of those evacuated from all the communities in the Gaza border region, she posted about this several times saying, "My heart is shattered for the people of Israel. Children, women and the elderly have been murdered and abducted from their own homes. I am in horror of these barbaric acts and my heart is pounding with love and prayer of the families of all affected."