On October 7, militant group Hamas launched a horrible attack on Israel killing more than 700 people. They also kidnapped around 200. The world stood in shock as videos from the Supernova Sukkot Gathering attack were circulating hours later. In response to this horrible act of terror, Israel launched a unprecedented attack on the Gaza strip. This resulted in the killing of more than 2000 innocent civilians. It immediately caused the public opinion to criticize this response as a breaching of International law and human rights. As a result, many artists took to the media to demand ceasefire and to stop the atrocities from both sides. Artists Call For Ceasefire And Demand a Diplomatic Solution.
While celebrities around the world use their profiles on social media to show support to either Palestine or Israel, artists and curators united to sign an open letter. The letter highlights the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Some of the most influential contemporary artists, like Nan Goldin, Tomás Saraceno, Mark Leckey and Peter Doig are among those who call for an end to the killing of innocents.
Along with them more than 150 curators, musicians, writers and publishers sign the open letter in support of Palestinians. Here is what it says:
“We call for an end to the killing and harming of all civilians, an immediate ceasefire, the passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the end of the complicity of our governing bodies in grave human rights violations and war crimes.” The authors also accuse the international institutions for “institutional silence”.
Moreover, the letter caused the reaction of the Israeli Art Community, which answered with a statement of its own. They posted the statement on Instagram. The statement read:
“What’s most upsetting is the complete absence of any mention of over 200 people kidnapped, most of them civilians, including babies, children, old and sick people,” it read. “[T]he hostages are not part of the humanity they are appealing for. By omission, they are giving legitimacy to the abduction of civilians.”
The statement continued, “By ignoring the rights of all who live in Israel, it’s as if those who signed the letter are dehumanizing all of those who live in Israel, the 9 million people who have a right to exist.”
The Artists for Palestine letter however condemns “every act of violence against civilians and every infringement of international law whoever perpetrates them”. “…our obligation is to do all we can to bring an end to the unprecedented cruelty being inflicted on Gaza”.
What is happening right now in Palestine and Israel is a breaching of international law. We will stay by this stance, instead of figuring out the ones to blame. The guilty of this are well known. From both sides. Moreover, if artists should do something about this, now is the time to raise awareness and make their voices heard. However, I don’t know if this would help enough. But we can try.
