Hollywood's new controversy: Celebrities urged to wear blood-stained symbol after Bibas deaths

As tensions remain high in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a new controversy is emerging as celebrities are being urged to wear the red hand symbol at this weekend’s Academy Awards. Here is why it is controversial.

The tragic news of the deaths of 10-month-old Kfir Bibas and his 4-year-old brother Ariel at the hands of Hamas captors last Thursday hit the world hard, especially the Jewish community. Their brutal deaths have sparked outrage across the globe, and yet on the very same day, the organization Artists4Ceasefire was reportedly emailing Oscar attendees, encouraging them to wear the red hand pins in support of Gaza. The pin, according to the organization, stands for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza.

However, for many Jewish filmmakers and activists, the timing of this call for solidarity, and the symbol itself, have raised a furious backlash. “That pin is no symbol of peace. It is the emblem of Jewish bloodshed,” declared The Brigade, a group founded by Jewish PR and studio executives in the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas massacre. Their anger stems from the history behind the red hand imagery, which they trace back to a gruesome murder during the Second Intifada in 2000.

The tragic moment occurred when two Israeli reservists took a wrong turn into Ramallah and were brutally lynched by Palestinian mobs. The chilling image of a man, Aziz Salha, displaying his blood-soaked hands to the crowd after the murders has become one of the most disturbing symbols of violence from that time. It draws attention to the sick joy terrorists feel when murdered innocent Jews, proudly displaying their blood as a trophy for their horrific actions. According to The Brigade, the red hand pin now being worn by celebrities draws an unsettling parallel to this awful moment in history.

The group argues that wearing the red hand pin is not only insensitive but an endorsement of violence and the slaughter of innocent people. “Would you proudly wear the emblem of a lynching? Would you parade the symbol of people who strangled babies with their bare hands?” they asked, condemning those who promote the ceasefire movement.

The controversy isn’t new—last year, celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Ramy Youssef, and Ava DuVernay were seen wearing the pins at the Oscars, which many found problematic. With the recent confirmation of the Bibas family’s murder, the call for a red hand pin has stirred emotions and caused deep divisions within Hollywood, with Jewish filmmakers speaking out against the symbolism and its troubling association with violence.

As the Oscar ceremony approaches, this debate is far from over, we will soon see who stands on which side. Time will tell who has choosen to remain silent not only turn a blind eye from the murder of the Bibas children, but encourage it.