NEW YORK, Fifty-five prominent figures from Hollywood, encompassing artists and advocates with Pakistan’s Riz Ahmed among them, have petitioned President Joe Biden through an open letter, pressing him to advocate for a ceasefire amid the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to a news release by Kashmir Media Service, notable names appending their signatures to the letter include Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett, Jon Stewart, Kristen Stewart, Susan Sarandon, Ramy Youssef, and Quinta Brunson. The letter has been orchestrated by a collective known as Artists4Ceasefire, with additional endorsements from celebrities such as America Ferrera, Bassem Youssef, Dua Lipa, Hasan Minhaj, Oscar Isaac, and Michael Stipe.

The letter passionately appeals to the administration and global leadership, stating, “We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay – an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages.” Drawing attention to the humanitarian aspect, the correspondence highlights that half of Gaza’s populace comprises children, with a significant majority being refugees or their descendants who have been displaced. The letter emphasizes the critical need for humanitarian aid to be accessible to them.

The letter poignantly remarks, “Like all of you, my heart is broken and heavy with the weight of what our sisters around the world endure every day… The brutality of terror and war is unfolding before our eyes. Entire families have been and continue to be erased.”

To date, there has been no public acknowledgment or response from the Biden administration addressing this letter or others expressing similar sentiments from the celebrity community regarding the conflict.