Ciara Shares Message of Support for Lives Lost in Israel Following Hamas Attacks

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent The Marrakech International Film Festival has announced its full jury, signaling that the event is forging ahead with its 20th edition despite the Israel-Hamas conflict — which has caused cancellations of several other fests in the region — and the earthquake that hit the country in September. Joining Jessica Chastain – who is the fest’s previously announced jury president – will be Iranian actor Zar Amir; French actor Camille Cottin; Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton; British director Joanna Hogg; U.S. director Dee Rees; Swedish-Egyptian director Tarek Saleh; Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård and French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani.

Popular Israeli-American screenwriter Dan Gordon announced his decision to become a Financial Core (Fi-Core) non-member of the Writers Guild of America West after 56 years on Tuesday, calling out the union for staying silent on Hamas' terror against Israel. "I am resigning my membership in the WGA West and electing financial core status because I no longer wish to be a fellow traveler with those who hide behind the fetid veil of a morally bankrupt wokeism and stand silent in the face of a fanatical ideology no less explicit in its genocidal intent toward the Jewish people than that of Nazi Germany," he said in a letter to WGA West's membership administrator Patrick Cannon and assistant executive director Ellen Stutzman.

K.J. Yossman Update: Kitty Laing is to step down as head of comedy at United Agents as well as her other leadership roles. The agency said in a statement: “Following the statements made earlier this week, it has been agreed that Kitty Laing will step away from her leadership roles as Head of Comedy and as a member of the Executive Committee of United Agents, effective immediately.

ITV News has apologized after giving over airtime to an Iranian state TV journalist who described Hamas‘ attack on Israel as a “moment of triumph.”

Longtime Writers Guild member Dan Gordon is resigning over the union’s lack of public support for Israel.

Steve Coogan has defended his decision to sign an open letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the current Israel-Hamas conflict, while also condemning the “horrific” Hamas attacks.Coogan was among over 2,000 names from the arts world who signed the letter. Tilda Swinton, Massive Attack‘s Robert Del Naja and Miriam Margoyles are also among the signees.The letter condemns various governments for “not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them” amid the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, as well as “every act of violence against civilians and every infringement of international law whoever perpetrates them”.Citing Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant’s depiction of Palestinians as “human animals”, the letter goes on to argue that Palestinians “have become people to whom almost anything can be done”.However, some have criticised the letter for not openly condemning the actions of Hamas, who reignited tensions between Israel and Palestine when it launched its biggest ever attack on Israel on October 7, killing over 1,000 people.In response, Israel imposed a “total siege” on Gaza, threatening to cut off electricity, fuel and supplies of food and water.

The BBC has offered extra support to staff who are facing abuse and attacks, and finding their mental health suffering over the corporation’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

EXCLUSIVE: The Writers Guild of America’s silence on the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel looks to be the only statement they’ll be making, at least according to West Coast president Meredith Stiehm.

Joe Biden called for a massive new aid package for Israel and Ukraine, linking the wars in both countries to American security, while denouncing a rise in anti-semitism and Islamophobia in the U.S.

Naman Ramachandran The touring production of “The Merchant of Venice 1936″ has been targeted by antisemites, its star revealed. Tracy-Ann Oberman, who has starred in “Doctor Who” and “Friday Night Dinner,” says the tour of the Shakespearean play has been forced to hire security guards in the wake of a surge of antisemitism prompted by the war between Hamas and Israel. “We’re on a 10-week tour and I’ve been moved beyond words at the reactions of audiences and critics.

Hundreds of protesters were arrested on Capitol Hill today as they demonstrated inside the Cannon Office Building, chanting for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war.

This is never okay! The entire Hadid family is fearing for their lives after receiving a ton of death threats over their support for Palestine.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Gigi Hadid was called out by the State of Israel Instagram page for a post she shared related to the Israel-Hamas war. The supermodel shared a graphic to her Instagram story that read: “There is nothing Jewish about the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A group of 22 Hollywood writers has penned an open letter calling out the Writers Guild of America for not issuing a statement condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America each issued statements last week condemning the attack.

Saturday Night Live is back with season 49!

Quentin Tarantino has been pictured at an Israeli army base.The legendary film director made a surprise visit in a bid to boost morale during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.The official page of Israel War Room, shared the photo on X and wrote: “Legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino visits an Israeli base in southern Israel to boost IDF morale.”Tarantino has been living in Tel Aviv with his Israeli wife Daniella Pick, and their two children for the last two years.#BREAKING: Legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino visits an Israeli base in southern Israel to boost IDF morale pic.twitter.com/Vso6IgQlWa— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) October 13, 2023The couple previously tied the knot at a small private ceremony in Los Angeles in 2018.Tarantino first met the model in 2009 while he was on promotional duties for Inglorious Basterds, which starred Brad Pitt and Christopher Waltz.His visit comes after Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Mark Hamill and Jamie Lee Curtis were recently among 700 Hollywood figures who signed an open letter voicing their support for Israel amid the ongoing war.Hamas launched an early morning attack on southern Israel last weekend that has since gone on to trigger an Israel-Hamas war.Meanwhile, Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp also recently spoke out against Instagram users for celebrating violence against Israel.Elsewhere U2 frontman Bono paid tribute to more than 260 music fans killed during an Israel festival attack.The attack at the Paralello Universo festival in Re’im, Israel last weekend was carried out by Hamas operatives.The electronic festival reportedly saw rockets hit the site (via CNN) before gunfire opened up on those in attendance soon after at the event.

As hundreds of thousands of Israeli troops mass on the border with Gaza today for a near certain ground invasion in response to murderous terrorist attacks that started on October 7, the striking Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has planted their flag in the dire situation.

Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Mark Hamill and Jamie Lee Curtis are among 700 Hollywood figures who have signed an open letter voicing their support for Israel amid the ongoing Hamas war.Stars including Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, and Mayim Bialik have also added their names to the “first of its kind” letter, condemning the actions of Hamas as acts of terrorism.The letter was released by Creative Community For Peace (CCFP), a non-profit entertainment industry organisation, on Thursday (12 October).The organisation “calls on our friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry to speak out forcefully against Hamas and do whatever is in their power to urge the terrorist organisation to return the innocent hostages to their families,” after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel killing more than 1,200 people.Following retaliatory airstrikes on cities in the Gaza strip, more than 1,500 Palestinians have also been killed in the conflict, with thousands more injured.In its letter, the CCFP also asked its supporters to stop the spread of misinformation “as Israel takes the necessary steps to defend its citizens in the coming days”.In an accompanying statement, Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, said: “My heart is aching for the lives lost and families shattered.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Chief Correspondent The Walt Disney Company is donating $2 million to organizations providing humanitarian relief to those affected by the Israel-Hamas war. “In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Israel this past weekend, we must all do what we can to support the innocent people experiencing so much pain, violence, and uncertainty — particularly children,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

A letter signed by more than 700 members of the Hollywood community is calling for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas as part of their attacks on Israel.