Hundreds of Hollywood celebrities signed a petition calling on the U.S. to stop providing Israel with weapons. A lot of us felt uneasy about that petition. Intuitively, we all understand that military advice or analysis should probably not come from Hollywood actors. Just because someone played a five-star general in a movie doesn’t make them an expert on war. So yes, this petition is not only misguided—it’s dangerous. Let me explain why. I’m not a military expert either, but I listen to those who are. Recently, a group of high-level military experts visited Israel to assess its military operations. They concluded that Israel is fighting a just war against Hamas in full compliance with international law. They observed that Israel is taking extraordinary precautions to minimize civilian harm—even building roads to deliver aid during the conflict. No other military in history has made such an effort. Furthermore, when Australia investigated the tragic incident in which World Central Kitchen workers were accidentally killed, they found that Israel conducts thorough and transparent investigations when such mistakes occur. In recent days, White House National Security Communications Advisor and retired Navy admiral John Kirby said, “The biggest obstacle to peace right now is Hamas,” the same group that executed six hostages just this past weekend. The U.S. provides weapons to Israel because Israel is fighting a multi-front war against Iran’s jihadi proxy armies—Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and more. Among these weapons is the Iron Dome, a purely defensive technology that intercepts rockets in mid-air, saving countless lives. Yet, this is what these celebrities are trying to stop. War is horrific. But what these Hollywood celebrities are really promoting, whether they realize it or not, is Hamas’s dream of a defenseless Israel. If these celebrities truly want to see an end to the devastation in Gaza, they need to put the pressure where it belongs—on Hamas, the group responsible for starting this war and destabilizing the entire region.
See Tweet