In the wake of a devastating Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which led to the deaths of at least 45 people, international criticism against Israel has intensified.
The incident, acknowledged as a “tragic mistake” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has ignited outrage worldwide, with several Indian celebrities voicing their support for the Palestinian cause and condemning the violence, particularly against civilians and children.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu
Samantha Ruth Prabhu has been using her social media platforms to amplify messages calling out the attack on Rafah. On her Instagram Stories, she shared posts urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. One of the posts highlighted a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanding Israel to halt its military offensive. The post read, “This latest attack on Rafah comes after the ICJ ruled for Israel to ‘immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.’ There are no words for this horror. There is nowhere safe to go. It must stop. Ceasefire now.”
Swara Bhasker
Known for her vocal stance on political and social issues, Swara Bhasker has been a long-time supporter of Palestinian rights. She has previously participated in protests supporting the Free Palestine movement. Following the Rafah attack, Bhasker shared a series of impassioned posts on Instagram Stories expressing her indignation. In one post, she wrote, “We live in a world that expects us to have a balanced response to babies being beheaded and burnt alive in tents!!!! There are no words, only curses in my heart for the smug white men (and women and people) who did this, enabled this, abetted this, funded this, supported this, made a narrative to normalize this, celebrated this.”
Dia Mirza
Actress Dia Mirza also joined the chorus of voices condemning the Rafah strike. She reshared a post from a pro-Palestine protest that featured a ‘Let Gaza live’ poster on her Instagram Stories, accompanied by heart emojis in the colors of the Palestinian flag – black, white, red, and green – to signify her solidarity.
Gauahar Khan
Gauahar Khan took to Instagram Stories to share several posts about the Rafah attack. One poignant excerpt she shared read, “Tonight, mothers in Gaza will again hold their children and hope they sleep. And they, and we, will pray that they wake.” Khan’s posts highlight the profound human suffering and the ongoing fear faced by families in Gaza.
Aly Goni
Actor Aly Goni shared an ‘All eyes on Rafah’ post on his Instagram Stories, bringing attention to the severe impact of the attack. He also reshared a post about Israel bombing Rafah 60 times in 48 hours following the ICJ orders, emphasizing the urgent need for international attention and action.
Fatima Sana Shaikh
Fatima Sana Shaikh expressed her distress over the violence in Rafah on her Instagram Stories. She wrote, “Came across a really disturbing video of beheaded children in Rafah. One cannot just ignore this anymore. When will this end?” Her message underscores the brutal reality of the conflict and the urgent need for resolution.
Radhika Apte
Radhika Apte joined her peers in condemning the violence by resharing a series of videos and posts about the Rafah attack. One of the posts she shared stated, “We are running out of words. The videos out of Rafah are beyond horrific. Traumatising. More traumatising than we have collectively witnessed thus far.” Apte’s posts emphasize the emotional and psychological toll of the ongoing conflict.
Nakuul Mehta
Television actor Nakuul Mehta also took a stand, resharing a post that sharply criticized Israel’s actions. The post declared, “If your country is beheading children, your country does not deserve to exist…” Mehta’s repost reflects the deep frustration and moral outrage felt by many.
Amy Jackson
British model and actress Amy Jackson, who works in Indian cinema, added her voice to the outcry against the violence in Gaza. On Instagram, she wrote, “Living our privileged lives while innocent people endure genocide is a stark contrast. As a mother, the pain and suffering of the 600,000 terrified, mostly orphaned children in Rafah is unimaginable. Our society has lost its moral compass. Film festivals and media outlets silencing outcry against genocide highlight the injustice in our world today. We demand a CEASEFIRE. Do not stay silent. Do not let our governments distract from the torture the Palestinian people face. There is NO JUSTIFICATION for the murder of innocent men, women, and children.”
The recent Israeli airstrike on Rafah has drawn significant international condemnation, with Indian celebrities prominently voicing their support for Palestine. Through social media, these public figures are amplifying calls for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the violence, highlighting the tragic human cost of the conflict and urging global action to protect innocent lives.
