Oscars 2026: Stars Demand End to Conflicts in Gaza and Iran
At the 2026 Academy Awards, celebrities used their platform to call for an end to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The 2026 Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles saw a number of high-profile actors, directors, and producers using their acceptance speeches and appearances on stage to make impassioned pleas for an end to the escalating conflicts in the Middle East. Tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran had reached a boiling point in recent years, with the US providing military aid and intelligence support to Israel's offensive against the Gaza Strip, while also ramping up economic sanctions and covert operations against Iran's government.
Several winners and presenters took the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the devastating human toll of these protracted wars. Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx delivered an emotional address, saying, "As artists, we have a responsibility to speak up for those who don't have a voice. The people of Gaza and Iran are suffering, and it's time for this senseless violence to end." Acclaimed director Ava DuVernay echoed similar sentiments, urging the audience to "use your platforms to demand peace, not more death."
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Source: Al Jazeera
