Actress and model Gal Gadot responded to the past few days of escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, saying that she prays for better days on her social media.
“My heart breaks,” wrote Gadot on Twitter. “My country is at war. I worry for my family, my friends. I worry for my people.”
Gadot continued to reference the length of the so-called Israel-Palestinian conflict, describing it as a “vicious cycle.” Gadot then added that both sides deserve to leave in peace.
“This is a vicious cycle that has been going on for far too long,” Gadot said. “Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation, Our neighbors deserve the same.”
“I pray for the victims and their families, I pray for this unimaginable hostility to end, I pray for our leaders to find the solution so we could live side by side in peace. I pray for better days,” Gadot concluded.
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) May 12, 2021
Pro-Palestinian activists were quick to reject Gadot’s non-partisan call for peace.
“Just another reminder that Gal Gadot is a Zionist and has long supported the ethnic cleansing and violence towards Palestinians,” wrote one Twitter user.
Just another reminder that Gal Gadot is a Zionist and has long supported the ethnic cleansing and violence towards Palestinians. https://t.co/e3niuZ8F21
— mika 🔪 (@RIPmika) May 12, 2021
“Reminder Gal Gadot served in the IDF for two years where she not only witnessed the ethnic cleansing of Palestine firsthand but also actively supported it. How can you advocate to stop the vicious cycle of terror when you are a very part of it,” tweeted another, alongside the hashtag, “#GazaUnderAttack.”
Reminder Gal Gadot served in the IDF for two years where she not only witnessed the ethnic cleansing of Palestine firsthand but also actively supported it. How can you advocate to stop the vicious cycle of terror when you are a very part of it.#GazaUnderAttack https://t.co/nLmBbhbKSv
— khaled 🇵🇸 (@el_khxled) May 12, 2021
Violence has rapidly escalated in the region in recent days. On Monday morning, Palestinians rioted, hurling rocks and firebombs at police at the Temple Mount. Israeli police forces then moved to suppress the riots, using stun grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets.
“A short time ago, hundreds of rioters began throwing stones at the Mughrabi Bridge. Following this, police commission Yaakov Shabti ordered police forces stationed at the scene to enter the Temple Mount and to push the rioters back, using crowd dispersal methods. Israel Police forces are continuing to operate at the scene,” an Israeli police spokesperson said.
That evening, Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip repeatedly targeted Jewish civilian areas with indiscriminate rocket fire.
“According to the Israel Defense Forces, over 200 rockets and mortar shells were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, dozens of which were intercepted by Iron Dome missile defense batteries. The military said the Iron Dome had a successful interception rate of over 90 percent of projectiles heading toward populated areas,” The Times Of Israel reported.
On Tuesday evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of strikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
“The army will continue to attack to bring a total, long-term quiet,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Wednesday. “Only when we reach that goal will we be able to speak about a truce.”