Renowned Israeli actress Gal Gadot has been honored with Israel’s Genesis Prize, celebrating her steadfast support for the nation amidst widespread criticism from the entertainment sector regarding the conflict in Gaza.
Identifying herself as both a “proud Jew and a proud Israeli,” the “Wonder Woman” actress, who has occasionally faced personal challenges due to her advocacy, announced her intention to donate the $1 million prize to organizations dedicated to aiding Israel’s recovery from the two-year conflict with Hamas.
“Israel has suffered unimaginable pain,” Gadot stated in a release from the award committee on Tuesday. “It is time for us to heal — to mend hearts, rebuild families, and strengthen communities.”
Dubbed “the Jewish Nobel” by Time magazine, the Genesis Prize is awarded annually to individuals for their professional accomplishments, humanitarian contributions, and adherence to Jewish values. Recipients often donate their prize money to causes they are passionate about, such as combating antisemitism, promoting women’s rights, or advocating for economic equity.
The Gaza conflict began with an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals in southern Israel and the kidnapping of over 250 others.
Initially, Israel garnered some international sympathy, but global sentiment shifted as its military response escalated. Gaza’s health officials report over 69,000 Palestinian deaths and extensive destruction in the region. Last month, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement.
The negative sentiment toward Israel has reverberated in Hollywood, where hundreds of industry workers, including some leading directors and actors, recently pledged to boycott the Israeli film industry.
Throughout the war, Gadot, who served in the Israeli military after high school, remained a fervent advocate for Israel. She campaigned for the release of hostages held by Hamas, met with hostage families and released hostages and helped promote the screening in Los Angeles of a graphic film documenting the Hamas attack.
At times, she has faced pressure and criticism for this support.
Gadot, who played the wicked stepmother in “Snow White,” has said she believes anti-Israel sentiment was a factor in the poor performance of the film early this year. When she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last March, supporters of Israel and of Palestinians clashed nearby. And in August, hundreds of people from the film industry signed a letter calling on the Venice Film Festival to withdraw an invitation to Gadot. The festival’s director rejected the call, though Gadot did not attend.
Stan Polovets, the co-founder and chair of the Genesis Prize Foundation, praised Gadot’s “moral clarity and unwavering love for Israel,” saying it had come at great personal and professional risk.
A date for the awards ceremony next year was not immediately announced. The most recent winner, Argentine President Javier Milei, came to Jerusalem in June to receive the 2025 award.
Previous winners include former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; actor Michael Douglas; violinist Itzhak Perlman; sculptor Anish Kapoor; filmmaker Steven Spielberg; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft,; former Soviet political prisoner Natan Sharansky; Pfizer chair and chief executive Albert Bourla and entertainer Barbra Streisand.
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