Film Workers for Palestine Exposed: Hollywood Boycott Group's Pro-Terror Social Media
Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo among 1,800 celebrities pledging to letter from group that appears to celebrate terrorists, convicted murderers, and maritime violence against U.S. forces
Over 1,800 film industry professionals, including A-list Hollywood stars, have signed a boycott pledge against Israeli cultural institutions through an organization that actively promotes individuals with documented ties to designated terrorist organizations.
The boycott pledge, published in The Guardian, commits signatories to refuse work with Israeli film institutions they claim are "implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people." However, a Jewish Onliner investigation into Film Workers for Palestine, the organization behind the campaign, found disturbing glorification of terror-tied individuals and support for violent attacks against U.S. forces.
The high-profile signatories include Oscar winners Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Olivia Colman, and Tilda Swinton, along with prominent actors Josh O'Connor, Joe Alwyn, Ayo Edebiri, Cynthia Nixon, Javier Bardem, and directors Ken Loach, Yorgos Lanthimos, Adam McKay, and Ava DuVernay.
Refusal to Acknowledge Israeli Suffering
Film Workers for Palestine has taken extreme positions regarding any recognition of Israeli victims. The organization shared a social media post calling the Berlin International Film Festival "ideologically at its worst" after the festival honored David Cunio on the first anniversary of his kidnapping during the October 7 attacks.
Cunio, an Israeli actor who appeared in the 2013 Berlinale film "Youth," was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas militants and remains in captivity. The organization's criticism of the festival for acknowledging a kidnapping victim demonstrates their opposition to any expression of sympathy for Israeli suffering, regardless of the circumstances.
The group has also promoted content that directly compares Israel to Nazi Germany, employing Holocaust analogies while simultaneously condemning recognition of Jewish suffering.
Promoting Terror-Tied Individuals
Film Workers for Palestine has also actively celebrated individuals with documented connections to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, specifically Bisan Owda, a Palestinian content creator with established ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
According to StopAntisemitism, Owda has been "photographed celebrating the PFLP's 47th and 48th anniversaries, proudly donning their attire, and even served as the 'Master of Ceremonies' in 2016." The PFLP identified her in 2018 as part of their Progressive Youth Union. The organization notes that "the PFLP uses Bisan as a propaganda tool."
The PFLP, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, and other countries, participated in the October 7 attacks and has been responsible for numerous attacks against civilians. Owda's Emmy nomination and subsequent win in 2024 sparked controversy when over 150 entertainment industry professionals called for its rescission due to her terrorist affiliations.
Beyond her PFLP connections, Owda faces accusations of financial fraud. StopAntisemitism reports that "Bisan orchestrated a GoFundMe campaign claiming to support 'Gazan' families—but instead pocketed approximately $400,000 in donations for herself."
Celebrating Convicted Terrorists and Murderers
Film Workers for Palestine has also shared content celebrating Walid Daqqa, presenting him as a Palestinian writer and activist who was unjustly detained by Israel. However, court records reveal that Daqqa was imprisoned for leading a PFLP cell that kidnapped, tortured, and murdered Israeli soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984.
According to documented evidence, Daqqa commanded the operation in which the PFLP "led a PFLP cell that abducted a young IDF soldier, tortured him, gouged out his eyes, and then shot him dead." Film Workers for Palestine shared promotional material for a movie about Daqqa's life, presenting him as a cultural figure while omitting his conviction for orchestrating the torture and murder of a civilian.
Historical PFLP Leadership Promotion
The organization has also promoted content featuring Ghassan Kanafani, a PFLP founder and spokesman who was assassinated by Israel in 1972 for helping orchestrate the Lod Airport Massacre. Film Workers for Palestine shared a post honoring Kanafani, presenting him solely as an artistic figure.
However, according to Jewish advocacy organizations, "photographic evidence linked Kanafani to the May 1972 Lod Airport massacre, in which terrorists recruited by the PFLP gunned down 26 travelers," including American citizens. The attack, carried out by Japanese Red Army members recruited by the PFLP, specifically targeted civilians in an international airport.
These patterns reveal Film Workers for Palestine consistently promoting individuals connected to organizations responsible for attacks against civilians, including Americans, while presenting them exclusively through cultural or political lenses that obscure their roles in terrorist violence.
Endorsing Maritime Violence Against American Forces
Film Workers for Palestine has expressed explicit support for Yemen's Houthi terrorists and their attacks on international shipping. On their social media accounts, the organization shared a post supporting what they describe as Yemen's blockade on US-Israel linked ships in the Red Sea, writing along side a heart-eyed emoji, “The blockade on the US is in effect.”
These attacks have resulted in significant casualties and disruption to international commerce. According to U.S. Central Command, Houthi forces have "struck or attacked the US Navy 174 times and attacked commercial shipping 145 times" over the past 18 months. In March 2024, a Houthi missile attack killed three seafarers on a Red Sea merchant vessel, marking the first fatal attack during the current crisis.
The attacks have damaged at least 30 ships, with four vessels completely sunk. Film Workers for Palestine's public endorsement of the Houthi’s violent blockade represents support for actions that have directly threatened American military personnel, endangered civilian seafarers from multiple nations, and disrupted global commerce.
Hollywood's Terrorist Support Problem
The apparent support from Film Workers for Palestine to individuals connected to designated terrorist organizations raise fundamental questions about the due diligence performed by the 1,800 celebrity signatories. The systematic pattern of promoting terror-tied individuals and endorsing violence against international shipping suggests connections to more radical political networks than the humanitarian facade would indicate.
The organization's success in attracting major Hollywood figures—including Academy Award winners and stars of blockbuster franchises—demonstrates the effectiveness of framing extreme political positions in humanitarian language. However, the evidence of deeper associations with terrorist-connected individuals and explicit support for violent actions reveals a concerning reality behind the public messaging.