Gaza ceasefire takes center stage at 2024 Oscars
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At the 2024 Oscars, a cadre of A-list celebrities made a striking statement by donning distinctive red pins, symbolizing their advocacy for a ceasefire in Gaza.
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Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish at the Oscars 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)
In a notable display of solidarity, a number of high-profile celebrities at the 2024 Oscars wore red pins advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. Among the prominent figures participating in this statement were Grammy winner Billie Eilish and Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo.
This symbolic act is part of a larger movement, with over 400 celebrities uniting under the banner of Artists4Ceasefire. The campaign, which gained momentum in late October, recently published a compelling letter urging the US Congress and US President Joe Biden to actively promote an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The Oscars served as a platform for these influential individuals to amplify their call for peace, bringing attention to the ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Throughout the awards season, various symbols championing the same cause were spotted on additional celebrities, reflecting a collective effort to use their platform for social and political advocacy.
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The distinctive red pin, symbolizing collective backing for an immediate and enduring ceasefire, the release of captives, and urgent humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, gained widespread endorsement from celebrities.
Notable personalities, including French actors Milo Machado-Graner and Swann Arlaud, flaunted pins alongside the Palestinian flag, emphasizing unity and the pressing need for humanitarian assistance.
Prominent figures such as director Ava DuVernay, actor Mark Ruffalo, and British actor-rapper Riz Ahmed, among others, made a powerful statement for peace by gracing the Oscars with the symbolic pin.
Wearing a red pin advocating for a ceasefire in #Gaza, actor Mark Ruffalo said a protest against the Israeli aggression on the Strip "shut down the Oscars" while rushing down the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, #California.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 11, 2024
"It’s starting. We’re late. We’re late.… pic.twitter.com/UJC9hGDvAc
Ramy Youssef, known for his role in the comedy "Poor Things", echoed the campaign's core message, emphasizing the imperative to "stop killing kids" and urging an end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
BREAKING: Actor Ramy Youssef speaks for Palestine on the #Oscars    Red Carpet:
— Khalissee (@Kahlissee) March 11, 2024
“We all call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We really want lasting justice and peace for the people of Palestine”
"We just want to say, 'Let's stop killing Kids.' 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/Rh5CW1OyUA
Sister and brother duo Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, both Oscar nominees, also sported the red pin, amplifying the call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
RIGHT NOW at the Oscars: Protesters demand a ceasefire now to end the U.S.-Israeli genocide in Gaza! Hands off Rafah!#ShutItDown4Palestine pic.twitter.com/YvbcqRra6B
— ANSWER Coalition (@answercoalition) March 10, 2024
It is worth noting that protesters joined the celebrities at the Oscars, demanding an immediate ceasefire to put an end to the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza. Chants and signs calling for a ceasefire resonated across the venue, with the protesters specifically emphasizing the need to keep Rafah out of harm's way.
Hundreds of protesters block the street leading to the #Oscars, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/NqGecdChXS
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) March 10, 2024
This is happening as the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported Sunday that the number of Gazans murdered since October 7 has risen to 31,045 and those injured to 72,654 amid the ongoing Israeli genocide against Gaza.
The Ministry reiterated that 72% of the Palestinian victims are women and children, adding that the number of Palestinians killed by malnutrition and dehydration has risen to 25.
Read next: 13 children in Gaza die of hunger; Hamas slams it as 'disgrace'
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
