#ReleaseTheHostagesNow: British and American celebrities launch campaign

A coalition of celebrities has launched a campaign to highlight the now 239 innocent civilians held hostage by Hamas terrorists.

The campaign, #ReleaseTheHostagesNow, was organised in part by Creative Community For Peace (CCFP), an entertainment industry non-profit organization, Nina Tassler (television executive and former chairwoman of CBS Entertainment) and Emilio Schenker (CEO, Sipur Studios), in full cooperation with the official Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

The viral campaign, which has already gained significant attention, hopes to leverage entertainment leaders’ social media audiences to galvanise international support for the hostages and their families, and ultimately to expedite their release from captivity.

This campaign emphasises the urgent need for countries like Qatar and Turkey to press Hamas to release the hostages.

Entertainment figures supporting the campaign include Amy Schumer, Debra Messing, Julianna Margulies, Michael Douglas, Billy Crystal, Mayim Bialik, Mandy Moore, Chelsea Handler, Sharon Osbourne, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, Jerry O’Connell, Joshua Malina, Alyssa Milano and Chuck Norris.

In a statement, the group calls “upon people around the world to advocate for those who cannot share their own stories. Together, we must relentlessly fight for the freedom of these innocent civilians and demonstrate our solidarity in the face of such injustices.”

Jewish actress Mayim Bialik said: “This urgent campaign underscores the need for the international community to put pressure on the states that have influence with Hamas to free these individuals from captivity. It is vital that the world does not forget the faces of these innocent victims – they are the reason Israel continues to fight this war on terror and they are the reason the world must take a stand against this hatred and say NO MORE.”

Julianna Marguiles added, “With every passing hour, the health and safety of each hostage becomes more tenuous. We hope this campaign brings their stories to life, offers the families solace knowing they aren’t alone, and moves us one step closer to their safe release. With each share, like, and comment of support, the world unites against terrorism and in support of peace.”

CCFP executive director, Ari Ingel said: “We must use every tool at our disposal to support these innocent victims of terror. These now 239+ hostages are from 25 different countries and range from toddlers who are just a few months old to Holocaust survivors in their late 80’s. Shamefully, posters of the kidnapped around the world have been torn down in antisemitic hatred. These are posters no one can tear down.”

For more information and to see all now 239+ hostage posts click here.