Spanish actor Javier Bardem used his platform at the San Sebastian Film Festival to strongly criticize Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire amid ongoing conflict. Bardem was receiving the prestigious Donostia Award and during the press conference, he denounced the Israeli government and described the situation in Gaza as “unacceptable and dehumanizing.”
“I welcome [the award] with great joy, but I am not in the mood for celebrations,” Bardem said, referring to the ongoing violence. He highlighted the tragic loss of life in Gaza since the war began, with protests erupting across the city as demonstrators voiced their outrage.
Bardem didn’t shy away from criticizing the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that it is “the most radical government” Israel has ever seen. He condemned the airstrikes following the 7th October Hamas attack, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis, but stressed that such actions do not justify the collective suffering of Palestinians. “The atrocious and reprehensible attacks by Hamas in October do not justify the massive global punishment that the Palestinian population is suffering,” he said.
In his remarks, Bardem urged international powers like the US and UK to reconsider their “unconditional support” for Netanyahu’s government, stressing the need for a change in how Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank are handled on the global stage.
As protests for Gaza continued on San Sebastian’s La Concha beach, where messages in support of Palestine were written in the sand, Bardem accepted his award, also expressing affection for his wife, actress Penélope Cruz. The celebrated actor, known for his roles in Dune: Part Two, No Country for Old Men, and Skyfall, received the Donostia Award from his siblings Monica and Carlos Bardem.
The 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival will run until 28th September.
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