Rabat – In a grim twist as a part of the ongoing mockery that the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) make while committing genocide in Gaza, a photo circulating online shows names of pro-Palestinian celebrities Billie Eilish and Mark Ruffalo scribed on an Israeli bomb, accompanied by the taunt “You can come to Gaza,” and signed “From Haim Gozali,” a well-known Israeli mixed martial artist and former IOF member.
This signature adds a disturbing layer of personal intent to the intimidation targeting voices for Palestinian rights.
This is not the first time that Israeli forces have taunted celebrities with these cruel games. In 2023, missiles were similarly inscribed with names like Andrew Tate, Mohammed Hijab, Cenk Uygur, and many others who have voiced support for Palestinians while they face genocide and famine at the hands of Israel.
Uygur responded with fierce conviction on X: “If IDF is worried about me enough to write my name on their bombs, they’re right. I wouldn’t let them murder innocent Palestinian children. If I’m in charge, my name wouldn’t be there because those bombs wouldn’t be there! I wouldn’t spend our money on killing innocent children.”
This disturbing interplay, where celebrity activism becomes fodder for military mockery, exposes how cultural influence is weaponized amid the ongoing genocide and Israeli occupation of Gaza. Naming missiles with figures names puts them in inappropriate space, ruling linking them with the very weapons and war crimes they are voicing their condemnation for.
Billie Eilish and Mark Ruffalo have not yet issued public responses. Their activism, however, speaks volumes. Both appeared at the 2024 Oscars wearing red “Artists4Ceasefire” pins, along with other celebrities in solidarity with Gaza, namely Ava DuVernay, Ramy Youssef, Mahershala Ali, and Finneas O’Connell.
The latest image arrives at a moment when Gaza faces dire new horrors. The UN-backed IPC has officially declared famine in Gaza, calling it a Level 5 “catastrophic” hunger crisis. Over half a million Palestinians are now starving, and the famine is largely driven by Israel’s blockade and bombardment, disrupting food, aid, and agriculture.
In a powerful Instagram appeal, Ruffalo condemned the famine as intentional. He emphasized, “This is not a natural disaster. It’s not a drought. This is a man-made disaster; it’s a man-made criminal act to kill civilian populations, and it’s being perpetrated by Israel and the IDF.” He then called out, “Don’t let Gaza starve. Speak up!”
As the famine deepens with malnutrition-related deaths rising, especially among children, the misuse of celebrity names underlines a cruel attempt to silence their voices. Yet the very attempt to erase or intimidate them is a testament to their impact.
