‘Hatred of Jews is spreading’: Israeli actress Gal Gadot breaks down as she sounds alarm over global antisemitism

Israeli actress Gal Gadot has raised concern over the growing spread of antisemitism across the world, becoming visibly emotional during an address at an event organised by the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Beverly Hills, California.

 

The Wonder Woman star warned that hatred towards Jews was spreading rapidly and, more troublingly, was increasingly being expressed openly and accepted in public discourse. Her remarks, delivered during the organisation's annual dinner on Wednesday, November 11, came amid continuing concerns over antisemitism following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war.

 

“I’m frightened by how quickly hatred of Jews is spreading, and how openly it is expressed and accepted,” Gadot said, with tears in her eyes.

 

 

 

In a video shared on Instagram on Friday, November 13, the actress acknowledged that she had not expected to become emotional. She then reflected on the events since October 7 and the questions that have continued to trouble her.

 

“Since October 7 massacre and the war that followed, I've found myself asking how far this could go,” she said.

 

“Our history gives us every reason to take that question seriously,” she added.

 

 

Gadot's remarks focused not only on the existence of antisemitism but also on the growing acceptance of expressions of hatred towards Jews. Her concern was that repeated exposure to hateful rhetoric could make it appear normal, allowing prejudice to spread without adequate resistance.

 

The actress's reference to Jewish history carried particular significance. The Jewish community has faced centuries of persecution, discrimination and violence, culminating in the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany and its collaborators.

 

Her appeal was directed towards the wider public, highlighting the responsibility to challenge antisemitism rather than ignore it. The warning also comes at a time when Jewish communities in several countries have raised concerns about hostility, threats and intimidation following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

 

 

Gadot delivered the remarks at the Simon Wiesenthal Center's annual dinner in Beverly Hills, where Israeli entertainment executive Ynon Kreiz received the organisation's Humanitarian Award.

 

Kreiz, co-chief executive officer of Skydance, also spoke about antisemitism during his acceptance speech. He said disagreements with the policies of the Israeli government should not become a justification for hatred directed at Jewish people.

 

He further stressed the importance of maintaining strong ties between the United States and Israel.

 

Kreiz also shared his family's experience of escaping Nazi persecution. According to reports, his mother was an infant when she and her elder sister hid in a closet during a Nazi raid in Vienna. The family fled that night and eventually found refuge in Scotland.

 

The ceremony also saw CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga receive the Jewish Heritage Award. Golodryga co-wrote the children's book Don't Feed the Lion, which deals with antisemitism in a middle-school setting, with Israeli journalist Yonit Levi. Gadot is producing a screen adaptation of the book.

 

Former Hamas hostage Noa Argamani, who was abducted from the Nova music festival during the October 7 attack and rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024, was also among those attending. Israeli President Isaac Herzog sent a prerecorded video message congratulating Kreiz.

 

 

Following the event, the Simon Wiesenthal Center thanked Gadot for attending its 2026 Humanitarian Award Dinner

and described her advocacy as an inspiration.

 

The actress has previously spoken publicly about the October 7 attack and the plight of Israeli hostages. Her latest remarks brought the focus back to the consequences of antisemitism beyond the immediate conflict, particularly the danger of allowing hatred towards an entire community to become socially acceptable.