Hamas, Terror and Civilians
Outlander actor Sam Heughan has apologised for signing a 'luvvie letter' condemning Israel and its response to the terror attacks by Hamas - on innocent, unarmed civilians.
"I condemn violence in any form. I stand against terrorism and evil and am heartbroken and appalled by the recent horrific actions by Hamas. It’s haunting to the core, my heart goes out to all affected."
Better late than never, as the old saying goes.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sam-heughan-israel-hamas-apology-lette-8tkscfqh0
Outlander’s Sam Heughan sorry for signing letter condemning Israel
Sam Heughan said he was trying to educate himself on the Middle East - ROBERT WILSON/AP
Sam Heughan said he was trying to educate himself on the Middle East - ROBERT WILSON/AP
By Heather Campbell - The Times
Sam Heughan, the Outlander star, has apologised to fans for signing an open letter that condemned Israel for its attacks on Palestine in recent weeks.
The Scots actor expressed his regret in a statement on Thursday after revealing that he had signed the open letter alongside more than 2,000 other artists, pleading with Israel for a ceasefire.
The 43-year-old signed the letter, written by Artists for Palestine UK, alongside fellow celebrities including Tilda Swinton, Miriam Margolyes and Steve Coogan.
However the actor, from Balmaclellan in Kirkcudbright, admitted that he failed to “fully understand” the document’s intentions, adding that he is “appalled” by the actions of Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group.
The full letter reads: “We are witnessing a crime and a catastrophe. Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble, and cut off the supply of water, power, food and medicine to 2.3 million Palestinians.
“In the words of the UN’s undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, ‘the spectre of death’ is hanging over the territory. Gaza is already a society of refugees and the children of refugees.
“Now, in their hundreds of thousands, bombarded from air, sea and land, Palestinians whose grandparents were forced out of their homes at the barrel of a gun are again being told to flee — or face collective punishment on an unimaginable scale.
“Dispossessed of rights, described by Israel’s minister of defence as ‘human animals’, they have become people to whom almost anything can be done.
“Our governments are not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them. There will come a time when they are held to account for their complicity.
“But for now, while condemning every act of violence against civilians and every infringement of international law whoever perpetrates them, our obligation is to do all we can to bring an end to the unprecedented cruelty being inflicted on Gaza.
“We support the global movement against the destruction of Gaza and the mass displacement of the Palestinian people.
“We demand that our governments end their military and political support for Israel’s actions.
“We call for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow humanitarian aid to enter unhindered.”
In a social media post yesterday Heughan wrote: “I inadvertently signed something that does not reflect my beliefs. I believed it was a simple call for peace. It wasn’t.
“I condemn violence in any form. I stand against terrorism and evil and am heartbroken and appalled by the recent horrific actions by Hamas. It’s haunting to the core, my heart goes out to all affected.
“I don’t know nearly enough and [I am] trying to educate myself on the conflicts in the Middle East. I feel helpless and wish I could help in some way.
“I pray for compassion, for all the innocent people affected. Peace and love to you all.”
The post received more than 5,300 likes and over 680 comments as fans shared their support for the Scot.
Sam Heughan, the Outlander star, has apologised to fans for signing an open letter that condemned Israel for its attacks on Palestine in recent weeks.
The Scots actor expressed his regret in a statement on Thursday after revealing that he had signed the open letter alongside more than 2,000 other artists, pleading with Israel for a ceasefire.
The 43-year-old signed the letter, written by Artists for Palestine UK, alongside fellow celebrities including Tilda Swinton, Miriam Margolyes and Steve Coogan.
However the actor, from Balmaclellan in Kirkcudbright, admitted that he failed to “fully understand” the document’s intentions, adding that he is “appalled” by the actions of Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group.
The full letter reads: “We are witnessing a crime and a catastrophe. Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble, and cut off the supply of water, power, food and medicine to 2.3 million Palestinians.
“In the words of the UN’s undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, ‘the spectre of death’ is hanging over the territory. Gaza is already a society of refugees and the children of refugees.
“Now, in their hundreds of thousands, bombarded from air, sea and land, Palestinians whose grandparents were forced out of their homes at the barrel of a gun are again being told to flee — or face collective punishment on an unimaginable scale.
“Dispossessed of rights, described by Israel’s minister of defence as ‘human animals’, they have become people to whom almost anything can be done.
“Our governments are not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them. There will come a time when they are held to account for their complicity.
“But for now, while condemning every act of violence against civilians and every infringement of international law whoever perpetrates them, our obligation is to do all we can to bring an end to the unprecedented cruelty being inflicted on Gaza.
“We support the global movement against the destruction of Gaza and the mass displacement of the Palestinian people.
“We demand that our governments end their military and political support for Israel’s actions.
“We call for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow humanitarian aid to enter unhindered.”
In a social media post yesterday Heughan wrote: “I inadvertently signed something that does not reflect my beliefs. I believed it was a simple call for peace. It wasn’t.
“I condemn violence in any form. I stand against terrorism and evil and am heartbroken and appalled by the recent horrific actions by Hamas. It’s haunting to the core, my heart goes out to all affected.
“I don’t know nearly enough and [I am] trying to educate myself on the conflicts in the Middle East. I feel helpless and wish I could help in some way.
“I pray for compassion, for all the innocent people affected. Peace and love to you all.”
The post received more than 5,300 likes and over 680 comments as fans shared their support for the Scot.
