Quentin Tarantino has visited an Israeli military base to boost morale among troops amid the devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The acclaimed film director, 60, posed for photos at the camp in southern Israel, which were shared at the Israel War Room Pages.
Photos of Tarantino with fans in Sde Boker, a kibbutz in the south, surfaced on Israeli social media.
One admirer put it plainly and posted on TikTok along with the director: “An exciting moment in the middle of all the s**t.”
Israel and Hamas, Gaza’s de facto governing authority, have been locked in a brutal conflict since Saturday, October 7, when Hamas gunmen broke down the border into Israel, killing 1,400 people and taking dozens hostage.
Quentin Tarantino visited an Israeli military base in the south of the country on October 13
The filmmaker was featured in a TikTok on Saturday with the caption: ‘Tarantino in Sde Boker, an exciting moment in the middle of all the s**t’
Tarantino is seen in a photo shared on X with troops in front of what appears to be a military aircraft.
The Israel War Room wrote on their page: “Legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino visits an Israeli base in southern Israel to boost IDF morale.”
It was not clear from the photo where exactly the director was visiting.
Tarantino has lived in Tel Aviv for the past two years with his Israeli wife Daniella Pick and their two children.
He said in a 2021 interview that Tel Aviv is a smaller version of LA, with “beautiful restaurants, cool bars, cool clubs.”
A number of actors and celebrities have spoken out about the conflict since the October 7 massacre.
Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress, signed an open letter condemning Hamas’ “evil” actions after the attack.
Signatories included Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Michael Douglas and Jerry Seinfeld.
“Hamas has murdered and abducted innocent men, women and children. They kidnapped and murdered babies and the elderly,” the open letter from Creative Community For Peace said.
‘This is terrorism. This is bad. There is no justification or rationalization for Hamas’ actions,” the letter continued. “These are barbaric acts of terror that must be called out by everyone.”
The letter came less than a week after gunmen representing Hamas crossed the border into Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking about 150 hostage.
Israel has responded with an unprecedented bombing campaign on Gaza, laying siege to the enclave and launching sustained airstrikes on the civilian population.
The developments have drawn criticism from international observers, including rights groups, who say civilians in Gaza are being punished for Hamas’ crimes.
American director Quentin Tarantino with his Israeli singer Daniella Pick at the Rome Film Festival, October 19, 2021
The United Nations has urged Israel to withdraw its demands for the evacuation of 1.1 million Palestinians in the north or face death. They said this would have “devastating humanitarian consequences.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres today called for an “immediate” ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
He also said that Hamas attacks did not justify the “collective punishment” of the Palestinian people.
At least 500 people were killed in an attack on al-Ahli Arab Hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Palestinian officials have said Israel was behind the attack – which Israel has denied.
The IDF wrote on Twitter: “Islamic Jihad hit a hospital in Gaza – the IDF did not.”
Earlier today, Joe Biden accused Palestinian groups of masterminding the attack, telling Israel it appears to have been done “by the other team, not you.”
Biden was seen hugging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of the trip, in a very public show of solidarity with the Israeli leader.