‘Stop the attack on Gaza’, actors protest at Cannes Film Festival

Lebanese actor Manal Issa highlighted the plight of Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli occupation forces as she walked the red carpet in Cannes yesterday.

Issa held a sign that read, “Stop the attack on Gaza” at the premiere of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”

Sixty people were killed on Monday by Israeli gunfire or tear gas, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, as the US opened its new embassy in the occupied city of Jerusalem. The death toll has risen to 63 over the past two days.

READ: Gaza death toll rises to 61

Hollywood actor Benicio del Toro joined Palestinians holding a minute’s silence at the Festival. Dozens of people stood in a circle and held hands outside the Palestinian pavilion.

Virginie Ledoyen, Benicio Del Toro, Mohammad Bakri, Annemarie Jacir, Raed Andoni et plusieurs autres artistes ont observés cette après midi une minute de silence à #Cannes en mémoire des 60 Palestinien-nes assassinés par l'armée israélienne hier à Gaza. #Cannes2018 #Gaza pic.twitter.com/V3HptGHhzu

— AgenceMediaPalestine (@AgenceMediaPal) May 15, 2018

“It’s really crazy to be here with the films, with the filmmakers, talking about our future plans while our kids and families are suffering from the Israeli attack on them,” said Palestinian film producer and director, May Odeh.

It is the first year that the Palestinians have their own pavilion at the festival where many countries have a presence to promote their movie industries.