Following the Oscars 2024 ceremony held on March 10, there has been severe criticism from Israel’s official X account and other pro-Israel accounts regarding celebrities wearing pins in support of a ceasefire amidst the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. The publishers alleged that celebrities may not be aware of the deeply ingrained significance of the handprint sign symbolism, which evokes memories of the 2000 Ramallah lynching of Israelis.
Celebrities Wear Pins to the Oscars, Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza
Billie Eilish, Finneas, Mark Ruffalo, Ava DuVernay, Ramy Youssef, and Quannah Chasinghorse were among the celebrities who wore pins at the recent Oscars festival. Actor Mahershala Ali also joined in, wearing one while presenting the nominees for Best Supporting Actor. These pins, featuring a hand encircling a black heart, symbolize a call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.
Israel Criticized the Celebrities Over the Pin Symbolism
Israel’s official X account, media outlets, and other pro-Israel social media users have criticized the mentioned celebrities over the sign symbolism, accusing them of being anti-Semitic and alleging that the celebrities do not know that the sign stands for the 2000 Ramallah lynching of two Israeli soldiers.
An X user uploaded pictures of the celebrities wearing the pin, along with a photo believed to be from the 2000 Ramallah lynching of Israelis. The user commented, “Can someone please tell the actors who wore a red pin with a hand to protest the war that they used imagery Jews associate with the 2000 Ramallah lynching of two Israelis. And you better believe that the person who designed the pin knows it.”
The Real Symbolism of the Pin Sign
The sign was designed by a group of artists called Artists4Ceasefire. According to the organization's official website, the enamel pin features a red background to symbolize the urgency of the call to save lives. The orange handprint sign represents the diverse community of individuals from various backgrounds coming together to support the central idea of emphasizing their shared humanity. The heart nestled within the hand serves as an invitation for people to approach situations with empathy and compassion, always prioritizing love.
What Is the Artists4Ceasefire Organization?
Artists4Ceasefire is a collective of artists and activists united in addressing the humanitarian emergency unfolding in Israel and Palestine. Their mission is to utilize voices and platforms to bolster the worldwide demand for an urgent and permanent ceasefire, the safe release of all captives, and the prompt distribution of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
Over 400 celebrities have given their support to Artists4Ceasefire. The campaign gained momentum after publishing a letter in late October urging action from the U.S. Congress and President Joe Biden.
The Symbolism of Red Handprints
The use of red handprints is believed to be a symbol of solidarity with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Day of Awareness in America. This symbol, often depicted as red handprints on women's faces, draws attention to the ongoing injustices faced by indigenous women in the 21st century.
The same symbol was frequently utilized by demonstrators worldwide to express solidarity on shared issues.
Hence, Israel's criticism of the celebrities who wore the fingerprint sign does not appear to be directly tied to the 2000 incident. Instead, it seems to stem from their support for Gaza, prompting harsh criticism from Israeli circles.
Israel Offensive Escalates, Killing More Palestinian Civilians
Since October 7, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that over 31,600 individuals have been killed by Israel. In the past 24 hours alone, 92 people have been murdered, bringing the total number of casualties to a devastating level. In addition, the ministry indicates that the count of injured individuals has soared to 73,676.
The World Health Organization chief has expressed deep concern following Prime Minister Netanyahu's approval of plans for an offensive in Rafah. Netanyahu's office has stated that the military is making arrangements to evacuate the estimated 1.4 million civilians trapped in the area, amidst mounting international apprehension regarding their safety.
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