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LONDON: More than 450 senior Jewish figures worldwide are calling on the UN and global leaders to impose sanctions on Israel over its actions “that will be judged to have met the legal definition of genocide.”

The appeal was made in an open letter signed by former Israeli officials, Oscar winners, intellectuals and authors, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.

Signatories include former Knesset speaker Avraham Burg, British author Michael Rosen, Oscar-winning filmmaker Jonathan Glazer, US actor Wallace Shawn, Emmy winners Ilana Glazer and Hannah Einbinder, Canadian author Naomi Klein and Pulitzer Prize winner Benjamin Moser.

They are demanding accountability over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. “We have not forgotten that so many of the laws, charters, and conventions established to safeguard and protect all human life were created in response to the Holocaust,” the letter said. “Those safeguards have been relentlessly violated by Israel.”

It calls on world leaders to abide by rulings from the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, avoid complicity in violations of international law via arms transfers, and ensure sufficient humanitarian aid for Gaza.

False claims of antisemitism against those calling for peace and justice must also be rejected, the signatories said.

“We bow our heads in immeasurable sorrow as the evidence accumulates that Israel’s actions will be judged to have met the legal definition of genocide,” the letter added.

Other signatories include American comedian Eric Andre, South African novelist Damon Galgut, Tony Award winner Toby Marlow and Israeli philosopher Omri Boehm.

“Our solidarity with Palestinians is not a betrayal of Judaism, then, but a fulfillment of it,” the letter said. “When our sages taught that to destroy one life is to destroy an entire world, they did not carve exceptions for Palestinians. We shall not rest until this ceasefire carries forward into an end of occupation and apartheid.”

DUBAI: Alana Hadid, model and creative director of Watermelon Pictures, a production company highlighting Palestinian stories, and older half-sister to supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid, has tied the knot.

She married Ross Williams, a television producer who now works in the mental health sector, whom she met on a dating app four years ago, wearing a vintage Vivienne Westwood gown.

The wedding was held at the home of her father, real-estate mogul Mohamed Hadid, in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, according to reports on Wednesday.

Her bridesmaids included Gigi and Bella, along with her maid-of-honor Marielle Hadid and “man-of-honor” Anwar Hadid.

According to Vogue, at the reception the couple served drinks from Palestinian-American brands, including an espresso and matcha bar by Mokafe and cola drinks by Drink Palestina.

Deeply passionate about her heritage, Alana, 42, has been using her platform to bring attention to the struggles of the Palestinian people, particularly in light of Israel’s continued occupation and genocide in Gaza.

Her activism is not restricted to the online space; it is a deeply personal commitment to highlighting the stories that matter, she said.

“I was always hearing stories, stories about the cities and the towns that their ancestors helped build. The lives that they had and their lives as refugees and then eventually in the United States.

“But I was very proud, always proud of being a Palestinian. That was what I learned as a child,” Alana told Arab News in a previous interview.

Shifting her focus to filmmaking, Alana — along with brothers Badie Ali and Hamza Ali — co-founded Watermelon Pictures, a production company with a mission to create compelling, impactful stories that resonate with global audiences.

Through her work in film, she aims to bridge the gap between mainstream media and the often-overlooked narratives of the Palestinian people.

“I was honored to be asked to be the creative director of Watermelon Pictures. I think it’s not only a passion project for Hamza and Badie, but it is an opportunity for Palestinians to have a place to go to tell their stories.

“I get emotional about it. I think it’s just one of the most beautiful things that people have a place where they can put their stories. And we know that we have a safe place for that,” said Alana.