Just days after several Israeli human rights organizations labeled the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in its fight against the radical Palestinian Islamist group Hamas as genocide, numerous Israeli celebrities have called for sanctions against their own country. 

“The international community must impose harsh sanctions on Israel until it ends this brutal campaign and implements a permanent ceasefire,” states a letter published by Kathpress quoting the British newspaper The Guardian.

According to the letter’s signatories, Israel is starving the people of Gaza and is considering the forced displacement of millions of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The signers describe themselves as “Israelis committed to a peaceful future for our country and our Palestinian neighbors.” Their call stems from “deep shame, anger, and sorrow.”

According to The Guardian, the letter was signed by around 30 prominent Israelis, including Oscar winner Yuval Abraham, former Attorney General Michael Ben-Yair, and former Knesset Speaker and Jewish Agency Chairman Avraham Burg. Foreign Minister Responds: “Pressure on Israel Fuels Escalation” On Monday, the two Israeli human rights organizations

B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights – Israel released reports describing Israel’s actions against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as genocide, urging the international community to take all legally permitted steps to stop Israel. On Tuesday night, a third group, the Israeli-Palestinian organization Combatants for Peace, joined in issuing a similar warning of genocide against Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denied any wrongdoing by Israel. According to Sa’ar, the world is placing pressure on the wrong party in this war. He insisted it is not Israel, but Hamas, that is responsible for the war and suffering in Gaza. “International pressure on Israel undermines the chances of reaching an agreement with Hamas and even fuels military escalation,” Sa’ar told international media on Tuesday.

He also warned that the world is trying to “impose a Palestinian terrorist state on Israel.” According to Sa’ar, the global pressure being placed on Israel during these crucial negotiation days has already hardened Hamas’s stance — and at the same time, is fueling a wave of antisemitism.