Javier Bardem Signs Letter by Bereaved Israeli, Palestinian Fathers Urging End to “Bloody Conflict”

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Javier Bardem lent his signature to a plea from grieving Israeli and Palestinian dads, urging an end to the ongoing Israeli-Gaza dispute and advocating for resumption of peace talks to bring about an end to the fighting.

In their joint statement, representatives from over 800 Palestinian and Israeli families of the Bereaved Families Forum appeal for several actions:

1. The immediate release of all hostages being held by Hamas.
2. The freeing of a large number of innocent Palestinian prisoners currently incarcerated in Israeli prisons.
3. A cessation of all forms of violence and warfare between the two groups.
4. A resumption of dialogue and negotiations to resolve the ongoing conflict peacefully.

This call to action was made by Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan, and was published in the Spanish newspaper El Pais on March 24, with support from Javier Bardem.

As a compassionate gamer, I’m part of a unified team hailing from both Israel and Palestine – the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum for Reconciliation and Peace. We stand together, having each lost an immediate loved one in this longstanding conflict, striving to promote understanding, peace, and unity.

In the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, two fathers have tragically lost their children. Elhanan mourns the loss of his 14-year-old daughter Smadar Elhanan, who was killed in a suicide bombing in Jerusalem. On the other hand, Armin experienced the devastating death of his 10-year-old daughter Abeer Aramin, who was shot by Israeli border police near her school.

In their letter, signed by Bardem on Medium, these two fathers expressed that they have suffered greatly – losing their children during this violent struggle – as they titled it, ‘For Security and a Hopeful Tomorrow’.

Javier Bardem previously advocated for a truce in Gaza and expressed disapproval towards the Israeli government’s actions following their response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which led to the deaths of more than 1,200 Israelis. In retaliation, a war ensued in Gaza, resulting in the loss of over 50,000 Palestinian lives.

The letter published by El Pais and signed by Bardem in full below:

Eli Wiesel observes: “The pain felt most deeply by the victims isn’t just the brutality of their oppressors, but the indifference of those who watch.” Here, we express our strongest condemnation towards the barbaric assaults carried out by the extremist Netanyahu administration that resulted in the tragic deaths of hundreds of children, infants, and women in Gaza. It’s shocking that these attacks took place under American sponsorship and approval. The Netanyahu government has chosen to disregard the ceasefire agreement and continues down a path of genocide, war, and violence, putting innocent Palestinian lives at risk while also endangering Israeli hostages held by the radical group Hamas. This administration is exacerbating the misery experienced by both peoples in this region.

Let us appeal to every person residing on Earth, across its seven continents, 196 nations, and a population of approximately 7 billion. We urge you to work together to safeguard our planet by strengthening the power of global institutions, treaties, international courts, and international law as guidelines for nations. Failure to do so may lead us towards a world without rules, characterized by brutality, where conflict is preferred over dialogue, and the weak are victimized by the strong, with force being the only rationality.

The continued indifference towards the gruesome killings in Gaza, which lacks essential resources such as food, water, medicine, and electricity, contributes to its ruin, and this inaction is a clear violation of international law, constituting a war crime and a crime against humanity.

The lack of global outcry regarding the destruction of numerous homes in refugee camps like Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus in the West Bank, resulting in the displacement of many thousands of residents and the tragic loss of thousands more under inhumane circumstances, seems to embolden the occupation forces to persist with their policy that is systematically undermining the hope for a harmonious coexistence between the two peoples.

We invite every media platform, be it visual, audio, or social, along with influential figures like intellectuals and celebrities, all in the spirit of our cherished values of freedom and democracy, to vocally oppose untruths, injustices, and inequality. Let us unite against acts of aggression and massacres targeting innocent civilians.

Or, more concisely:

Join us, media outlets and influencers, in standing up for truth, justice, and equality. Together, let’s condemn aggression and civilian killings.

We, who have suffered greatly due to this prolonged conflict, mourn the loss of our children – Smadar Elhanan, aged 14, and Abeer Aramin, aged 10. Their lives were tragically cut short as a result of the ongoing Israeli occupation. We stand alongside countless other honorable and free individuals worldwide. We implore all nations and governments to take inspiration from countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway, Poland, and others by formally recognizing the State of Palestine as a means to halt the Israeli invasion and foster peace between our peoples. This recognition would serve to counteract the expansionist, colonial policies advocated by the extreme Israeli administration.

In this version, I have attempted to maintain the original sentiment while simplifying certain phrases for readability and clarity.

Now is the moment for the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-governance and establish their nation on their native soil, in line with United Nations resolutions and global legitimacy. We also urge President Donald Trump, whose words have given us hope that he aims to bring an end to wars and conflicts, to keep his word by ending the Israeli occupation and recognizing the State of Palestine.

Speaking on behalf of over 800 Palestinian and Israeli families, the members of the Bereaved Families Forum appeal for the liberation of all hostages held by Hamas, as well as the release of numerous innocent Palestinian prisoners currently incarcerated by the Israeli government. We long for an end to any form of violence and warfare, and a return to peaceful dialogue and negotiations in order to resolve the ongoing conflict between our two peoples. We urge the triumph of truth over force and arrogance in resolving disputes, and believe that the children of both Palestine and Israel deserve to grow up in safety and enjoy a prosperous future.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase that into something like this: “I’m part of a group called the ‘Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum for Reconciliation and Peace’. We’re two individuals, Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan, who’ve both lost family members due to the ongoing conflict in our regions. Yet, instead of focusing on the pain and anger, we’re using our shared experiences to promote understanding, reconciliation, and peace.

With the support of Javier Bardem

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2025-03-26 22:55