“We urge everyone to not rest until all hostages are released. No hostage can be left behind … we need to bring them home.”
By Shiryn Ghermezian, Algemeiner
Hundreds of Hollywood actors, comedians, directors, and executives signed an open letter addressed to US President Joe Biden on Monday calling for the release of all hostages taken from Israel by Hamas during the Palestinian terrorist group’s rampage against Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.
Amy Schumer, Zoe Saldana, Seth Meyers, Adam Sandler, Orlando Bloom, Chris Rock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Will Ferrell, Katy Perry, Bradley Cooper, Justin Timberlake, and a slew of others signed the letter as part of a new campaign called #NoHostageLeftBehind. The open letter, which also thanks Biden for his leadership, comes after Hamas released four hostages in two separate occasions since Friday.
“We are heartened by Friday’s release of the two American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan, and by today’s release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husbands remain in captivity,” the letter begins. “But our relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death.”
Others who signed the list include Ewan McGregor, Aaron Sorkin, Judd Apatow, Zack Snyder, Jordan Peele, Josh Brolin, Jon Hamm, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jerry Seinfeld and Courteney Cox.
“We all want the same thing: Freedom for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace. Freedom from the brutal violence spread by Hamas. And most urgently, in this moment, freedom for the hostages,” the letter states. “We urge everyone to not rest until all hostages are released. No hostage can be left behind … we need to bring them home.”