A number of award-winning film directors, including the Oscars and Palme d’Or, published an open letter calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of detainees.
In their letter, the directors – led by Israeli director Nadav Lapid, who won the Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear Award for the film “Synonymous Words” and the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for the film “The Knee” – described what is happening in the Strip as a “massacre of extreme proportions.”
The signatories of the letter – which was published by the French newspaper Liberation – wrote: “The terrible violence that occurred on the seventh of last October led Israelis and Palestinians to a new chapter of violence and cruelty.”
The letter added: “In Gaza, a massacre of extreme proportions is taking place, killing thousands of children and women and depriving an entire people of any chance of survival. We demand an immediate halt to the bombing in Gaza, the establishment of humanitarian corridors and the provision of humanitarian aid that all organizations are demanding.” International, and the immediate release of the abductees.
Among the signatories of the letter, in addition to Lapid, are Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki (who directed the film “Falling Leaves”), Hungarian director La Tarr, Japanese director Ryosuke Magochi, winner of the World Film Academy Award for “Mr. Yusuke’s Driving,” and French director Claire Denis. American director Ira Sachs, Frenchman Arthur Harari, and German Christian Petzold.