Spain's
leading film stars Penélope Cruz, Pedro Almodóvar and Javier Bardem are
the latest major celebrities to go public with their views on the
ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The
trio are among a group of actors who have penned an open letter in a
Spanish newspaper calling for Europe to condemn Israel's bombing of the
Palestinian territory, which has now claimed at least 1,200 lives - many
of them civilians.
The
Spanish stars follow in the wake of celebrities, including singers Zayn
Malik, Rihanna and Selena Gomez, and comedian Joan Rivers, who have
spoken out either for or against the bombardment.
Anger: Married couple Penelope Cruz (left) and
Javier Bardem (right) are among a group of actors who have penned an
open letter calling for the EU to condemn Israel's bombing of Gaza
The
Spanish celebrities speaking out against Israel's actions in Gaza call
on the EU to 'condemn the bombing by land, sea and air against the
Palestinian civilian population'.
'Palestinians' homes are being
destroyed, they are being denied water, electricity, free movement to
their hospitals, schools and fields while the international community
does nothing,' they add.
The
letter, which was published by Spanish news service Europa Press today,
goes on to lament the 'physical, moral, psychological' impact the
bombings are having on the people of Gaza, and also called for an end to
an Israeli blockade that restricts what can be taken from Israel into
the territory.
It is not the first time Bardem, who is married to Cruz, has spoken out in support of Gaza.
In
an article for Spanish newspaper El Diario on Saturday, he called the
conflict 'genocide', adding that it amounted to an 'occupation and
extermination against a people without means, confined to a minimum of
land, without water and where hospitals, ambulances and children are
targets'.
Support: One Direction star Zayn Malik (left)
posted the words '#FreePalestine' on his Twitter page, leading to death
threats from Israeli fans. Pop star Selena Gomez has tweeted support for
the Palestinian people
Humanity: Meanwhile pop star Selena Gomez was
ridiculed by the comedian Joan Rivers after she announced her compassion
for the Palestinian people
Zayn Malik received death threats from Israeli fans angry that he posted this tweet in support of Gaza
Branding
himself 'outraged, ashamed and hurt', Bardem added that he did not want
tax he pays in Spain to be used to support Israeli 'barbarism', before
going on to recognise the distinction between the actions of the Israeli
state and the opinions of Jews, who may not support the bombings.
'...being
Jewish does not automatically mean you support this massacre, just like
being Hebrew does not mean you are a Zionist, just like being
Palestinian does not automatically make you a Hamas terrorist. That's
just as absurd as saying that being German makes you Nazi,' he said.
Bardem
went on to say that he had spoken to a lot of Jewish friends in the
U.S. about the conflict, one of whom he claimed had told him: 'You can't
call it self-defense while you're murdering children.'
The
Spanish celebrities who penned today's open letter are the latest in a
long line of famous names to voice their opinion on the four-week-old
conflict, many of them coming out in support of Gaza.
Both Rihanna (right) and Kim Kardashian have
posted messages about the Gaza conflict on Twitter. Rihanna deleted her
'#Free Palestine' tweet after eight minutes however, while Kardashian
followed up her message about Israel with a post saying she was also
'praying for everyone in Palestine'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2710515/You-call-self-defence-youre-murdering-children-Javier-Bardem-Penelope-Cruz-lead-celebrity-revolt-Gaza-genocide.html
