Gal Gadot's screening of Hamas attack in Los Angeles turns into brawl amid poor attendance

Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine supporters confronted each other outside the Museum of Tolerance, where Gal Gadot had organised a screening of footage of Hamas's October 7 attacks into Israel

World

2 min read

The New Arab Staff

10 November, 2023

Groups of protestors confronted each other outside the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles [Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images]

A screening of footage from Hamas's attack on southern Israel on 7 October organized by Israeli actress Gal Gadot turned into a brawl between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters late on Wednesday.

The brawl, which broke out at a Shell petrol station next to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, saw punches being thrown and pepper spray used by the demonstrators.

Several people were detained by the police according to KABC-TV, with an LAPD spokesperson telling Newsweek that "there were no arrests."

The fight came after confrontations and shouting matches between the two sides outside the event, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that a group of Israel supporters went to over to where Palestine supporters were standing.

The screening was of a 43-minute film entitled 'Bearing Witness' which the Israeli government made using compiled footage taken from Hamas's attack on southern Israel on 7 October that killed 1,400 Israelis.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "we cannot allow current worldwide tension to devolve into this unacceptable violence in our city".

We cannot allow current worldwide tension to devolve into this unacceptable violence in our city.

This is a time of immense pain and distress for thousands of Angelenos. We must stand together. https://t.co/MaxguBI4Wf
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) November 9, 2023

According to The Hollywood Reporter 200 people, attended the viewing that was organized by Gal Gadot, who didn't attend.

Among those who attended were Gadot's husband Jaron Varsano, Israeli director Guy Nattiv and Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz. Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan also flew in from New York to attend.

However, there were no major Hollywood celebrities in attendance.

Since Hamas's attack on October 7, Israel has indiscriminately retaliated against the population of the Gaza Strip. 11,078 Palestinians have been killed of which 4,506 are children, according to Gaza's health ministry. 27,490 people have also been injured.