Jennifer Lawrence Calls Gaza crisis a Genocide - Hollywood’s Growing Voice for Palestine

At the San Sebastián International Film Festival, where she was being honoured with the prestigious Donostia lifetime achievement award, Jennifer Lawrence could easily have kept the spotlight on her latest film Die, My Love. Instead, she used the platform to say something far bolder. Asked about Gaza, the Oscar-winner didn’t hesitate: “What’s happening is no less than a genocide and it’s unacceptable.”

It was a moment that electrified the festival - and sent a clear message across Hollywood.

Jennifer Lawrence Breaks the Silence

Despite attempts by moderators to steer the press conference away from politics, Lawrence refused to be silenced. She admitted she feels “terrified and mortified” about what’s happening:

• “What’s happening is no less than a genocide and it’s unacceptable.”
• “I’m terrified for my children, for all of our children.”
• She warned that America’s current culture of “disrespect, lies, and lack of empathy” is being normalized, shaping how young people will see politics in the future.
• And though she admitted she wishes she had the power to fix this “extremely complex and disgraceful situation,” she urged people to focus on those actually responsible, reminding the public: “We have to vote. We have to hold people in power accountable.”

It wasn’t just an actor speaking - it was a mother, an artist, and one of Hollywood’s most visible stars choosing to name the truth.

A Star with Global Reach

Jennifer Lawrence is no fringe figure in Hollywood. She won an Academy Award at just 22 for Silver Linings Playbook, and has starred in box office juggernauts from The Hunger Games to X-Men, as well as acclaimed films like American Hustle and Joy. Her latest project, Die, My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay, sees her both act and produce, tackling raw themes of motherhood, mental health, and isolation.

The Donostia Award she received in Spain cements her legacy as one of cinema’s most influential figures. That makes her words about Gaza impossible to ignore.

She’s Not Alone: other Hollywood stars for Palestine

Lawrence’s intervention is part of a wave of Hollywood voices demanding justice for Palestinians. Thousands in the industry are refusing to stay quiet:

• The Film Workers for Palestine campaign, which calls for a boycott of Israeli film institutions tied to apartheid and occupation, has already attracted over 3,000 signatures from actors, directors, and producers.
• Among the names: Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Riz Ahmed, Ayo Edebiri, Josh O’Connor, Rebecca Hall, Ava DuVernay, and Yorgos Lanthimos.
• At this year’s Emmys, Javier Bardem used his red carpet moment to denounce the “genocide in Gaza,” refusing to work with those who support it and wearing a keffiyeh in solidarity.

This is no longer a handful of isolated voices - it’s a movement.

Why It Matters

When an actor of Jennifer Lawrence’s reach speaks plainly about genocide, it cuts through the noise. Her words carry weight not just in Hollywood, but with global audiences who know her from The Hunger Games and beyond.

She didn’t posture as a politician. Instead, she spoke with moral clarity, admitted heartbreak, and put responsibility where it belongs: on those in power. In doing so, she highlighted a deeper truth - silence will earn you complicity, and Hollywood is beginning to wake up to that reality.

A Defining Moment

Jennifer Lawrence’s courage to speak up in San Sebastián will likely be remembered as more than just a headline from a press conference. It’s a signal that even Hollywood’s brightest stars are unwilling to let Palestine’s suffering be ignored.

Her decision to call Gaza crisis a genocide, while urging accountability and change, shows that for this generation of artists, awards and red carpets are no excuse for silence. Like Bardem, Ruffalo, Colman, and so many others, Lawrence has drawn a line.

And as her career continues to soar, her voice for Palestine will echo far beyond the screen.