Far-left actor Mark Ruffalo apologizes for accusing Israel of 'genocide'
Far-left actor Mark Ruffalo, best known for playing "The Hulk" in Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, apologized on Tuesday for making social media posts that accused Israel of committing "genocide" amid the conflict between the world's lone Jewish state and the terrorist group Hamas.
"I have reflected & wanted to apologize for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is committing 'genocide,'" Ruffalo tweeted. "It's not accurate, it's inflammatory, disrespectful & is being used to justify antisemitism here & abroad. Now is the time to avoid hyperbole."
I have reflected & wanted to apologize for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is c… https://t.co/YJ0DPBpKzf
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) 1621911387.0
Ruffalo's apology follows a recent increase in hate crimes committed against Jews in the United States and abroad in the weeks of renewed conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. In several recent social media posts, Ruffalo took the Palestinians' side, comparing Israeli treatment of the Palestinians to apartheid in South Africa.
1500 Palestinians face expulsion in #Jerusalem. 200 protesters have been injured. 9 children have been killed. Sanc… https://t.co/n3FUsv6fME
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) 1620738353.0
"1500 Palestinians face expulsion in #Jerusalem," Ruffalo wrote on May 11, sharing a petition that called for international sanctions against the Israeli government. "200 protesters have been injured. 9 children have been killed. Sanctions on South Africa helped free its black people – it's time for sanctions on Israel to free Palestinians. Join the call."
After 11 days of violence, with Hamas terrorists targeting Israeli civilians with rocket attacks and the Israeli Defense Forces responding with airstrikes in Gaza, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire last Friday. Palestinian officials reported that 248 people were killed in Gaza, including women and children. On the Israeli side, 13 people were killed — a seemingly disproportionate number of casualties that can be attributed to Israel's Iron Dome defense system protecting Israelis while Hamas fighters position tunnels, rocket launchers, and command and control infrastructure in close proximity to Palestinian civilians.
It is unclear when Ruffalo shared a social media post accusing Israel of "genocide", but after his apology a vocal segment of his 7.5 million followers on social media accused him of moderating his support for the Palestinians. Some suggested that Disney, which owns Marvel Studios, forced him to make an apology.
While Disney's involvement is pure speculation, it would not be the first time the House of Mouse cracked down on one of its stars for controversial social media posts. In February, Disney fired "The Mandalorian" actress Gina Carano after a social media campaign demanded she lose her job for making a controversial Instagram post that compared censorship of conservative points of view and cancel culture to the Holocaust.
Ruffalo posting that Israel is committing "genocide" is at least as controversial as Carano's Holocaust post. But Disney has not yet responded to the tweet from its bigger star, at least not publicly.