Mark Ruffalo apologises for Palestine posts accusing Israel of 'genocide'

The actor says his posts were 'inflammatory' and 'disrespectful'

Mark Ruffalo has spoken out against anti-semitism after accusing Israel of 'genocide'. Getty Images 

Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo apologised for posts he shared on Twitter in which he voiced his support for Palestine, two weeks after he first tweeted about the recent Israel-Gaza violence.

"I have reflected and wanted to apologise for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is committing 'genocide'," Ruffalo, 53, tweeted.

"It’s not accurate, it’s inflammatory, disrespectful and is being used to justify anti-Semitism here and abroad. Now is the time to avoid hyperbole."

On Tuesday, May 11, the actor took to Twitter to call for sanctions to help free the Palestinian people. He was one of the first Hollywood actors to speak out in support of Palestinians.

“1,500 Palestinians face expulsion in #Jerusalem,” he wrote. “200 protesters have been injured. 9 children have been killed. Sanctions on South Africa helped free its black people – it’s time for sanctions on Israel to free Palestinians. Join the call. #SheikhJarrah”

Ruffalo primarily uses his digital platform to back social and environmental causes, often retweeting links to fundraising campaigns and from global activists and philanthropists.

On Monday, Ruffalo tweeted a link to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's Virtual Gaza 5K, which is to take place on Saturday, June 12, to raise money to provide "mental health for and urgent assistance for Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip".

On the same day, he retweeted Frozen actor Josh Gad's tweet about anti-Semitism, followed by a Wokal Distance thread about attacks on Jewish people in America and Europe.

"It never stops breaking my heart how easily anti-Semitism comes to so many. And how difficult it seemingly is for people to speak out against it," Gad wrote. 
"I will stand up against bigotry of all kind from Islamophobia to racism. Wish others would do the same when it comes to anti-Semitism."

International stars to have spoken out in solidarity with Palestine include Gigi and Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, Huda Kattan, Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon.

On Saturday, May 22, the part-Palestinian Hadid sisters and Lipa were the targets of a full-page advertisement run by The World Values Network in The New York Times, which accused them of "vilifying the Jewish State".

Lipa, who is in a relationship with Anwar Hadid, the brother of model sisters, slammed the publication on social media, saying they "shamelessly" used her name to "advance their ugly campaign with falsehoods and blatant misrepresentations".

Posted to her Instagram Stories and Twitter, she wrote: "I utterly reject the appalling allegations that were published today in the New York Times advertisement taken out by The World Values Network.

“This is the price you pay for defending Palestinian human rights against an Israeli government whose actions in Palestine, both Human Rights Watch and the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, accuse of persecution and discrimination.

“I take this stance because I believe that everybody – Jews, Muslims and Christians – have the right to live in peace as equal citizens of a state they choose.

“The World Values Network are shamelessly using my name to advance their ugly campaign with falsehoods and misrepresentation of who I am and what I stand for. I stand in solidarity with all oppressed people and reject all forms of racism."