Mark Ruffalo has never been particularly quiet about Palestine. From calling out Israel’s military actions in Gaza to challenging corporate ties with the Israeli military, the actor has consistently used his platform to speak up for Palestinian rights. And now, he’s taking that support into American politics.
His latest move is backing Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s 2026 US Senate election, who has made his opposition to US military aid to Israel a central part of his campaign. But this is hardly Ruffalo’s first time putting his name behind the cause. Here’s a look at how his support for Palestine has evolved over the years, from social media posts to political endorsements.
2026: Mark Ruffalo Endorses Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate Race
Ruffalo recently shared a video declaring his support for El-Sayed, saying, “I’m proud to stand with Abdul El-Sayed. I believe in what he stands for, the kind of leadership he represents, and the future we can build together.”
He also encouraged voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box, urging them to support a candidate whose priorities include putting people before corporate interests and investing in healthcare and other domestic needs.
El-Sayed has been sharply critical of the Israeli government’s conduct in Gaza, describing it as genocide and calling for an end to both offensive and defensive US military aid to Israel. His position has also made him a target of pro-Israel political spending, with AIPAC backing his opponent, Haley Stevens, with more than $30 million.
For Ruffalo, the endorsement is another way to turn his support for Palestine into action. Rather than simply speaking about the conflict, he’s encouraging voters to support a candidate whose policies reflect his own calls for accountability and a different approach to US foreign policy.
And that’s just one part of the picture. Ruffalo has been speaking up for Palestinians for years, long before this election.
2014: Calling Out the Bombing of Gaza’s Hospitals
Ruffalo’s support for Palestine goes back at least a decade. During Israel’s 2014 military offensive on Gaza, the actor took to Twitter to condemn attacks on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals.
On July 18, he responded to reports of the bombing of Gaza’s Al-Wafa hospital, writing: “Sorry, I thought blowing up Hospitals was something that all human beings could agree was off limits.”
It was a straightforward message, but one that established a pattern in Ruffalo’s activism: speaking up when he believes civilian lives are being put at risk, regardless of the political circumstances.
2018: Calling for Ahed Tamimi’s Release
In 2018, Ruffalo joined calls for the release of Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi, who became an international symbol of resistance after her arrest by Israeli forces.
Tamimi was 17 when she was sentenced to eight months in prison following an incident involving Israeli soldiers in her occupied West Bank village of Nabi Saleh. Ruffalo used his social media platform to call for her release, drawing attention to the imprisonment of Palestinian children and young people.
It was another example of his support extending beyond Gaza, highlighting the experiences of Palestinians living under occupation in the West Bank.
2020: Speaking Out About Apartheid and Inequality
In October 2020, Ruffalo appeared on The Mehdi Hasan Show, where he explained why he continues to speak publicly about Palestine, even when doing so comes with backlash.
He said his connection to the issue came from listening to Palestinians and hearing their stories, adding that artists have a responsibility to speak out against injustice.
Ruffalo also challenged the idea that Israel should be held to a different standard simply because it is an American ally. He described the violence against Palestinians as deeply unequal and argued that the United States should apply the same standards to Israel as it would to any other country.
For Ruffalo, the issue was not simply about taking a political position. It was about standing up for people whose experiences he felt were being overlooked.
2023: Rejecting the Idea of Palestinians as ‘Collateral Damage’
After Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, Ruffalo once again turned to social media to challenge the language being used to describe Palestinian deaths.
Responding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s characterization of Palestinians as “collateral damage,” Ruffalo stressed that the people living in Gaza are human beings, not buildings or infrastructure.
He also acknowledged the Israeli hostages, emphasizing that their lives matter too.
His message was a reminder that civilian lives should never be reduced to military terminology. For Ruffalo, speaking up for Palestinians meant insisting on their humanity, even as the war continued to devastate Gaza.
2024: Wearing His Support on the Oscars Red Carpet
Sometimes, speaking up means making a statement without saying a word.
At the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024, Ruffalo wore a red Artists for Ceasefire pin on the red carpet, joining a wider group of Hollywood figures calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The pin was part of a campaign urging world leaders to stop the killing and allow humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.
With millions watching the Oscars, Ruffalo used one of Hollywood’s biggest nights to bring attention to the ongoing crisis. It was a small accessory with a much bigger message.
2025: Calling Gaza’s Starvation a ‘Man-Made Disaster’
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsened, Ruffalo became increasingly vocal about the starvation of Palestinian civilians.
In August 2025, following the declaration of famine conditions in Gaza, he shared a video calling on world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, to intervene.
“This is not a natural disaster. It’s not a drought. This is a man-made disaster,” he said, describing the starvation of civilians as a criminal act.
Ruffalo urged people to keep speaking up, calling for an end to the killing of children, the return of the hostages, and a just and lasting peace.
His message was directed not only at Israel, but also at the governments with the power to influence what was happening. And once again, he was making the point that silence was not an option.
2026: Challenging Corporate Ties to Israel
Ruffalo’s activism has also extended into the corporate world.
In August 2026, the actor criticised Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, drawing attention to the connections between the Ellison family, Oracle, and the Israeli military.
Ruffalo shared an old video of Oracle executive Safra Catz discussing the company’s technology and support for Israel following the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks. He accused Oracle of helping advance the Israeli military’s agenda during the war in Gaza.
He also raised concerns about the proposed merger’s potential impact on media ownership and editorial independence, questioning why the deal was being pushed through.
Paramount subsequently accused Ruffalo of invoking antisemitic tropes in his criticism. Ruffalo rejected the accusation, maintaining that scrutinising corporate ties to the Israeli military and speaking out against the war in Gaza should not be conflated with antisemitism.
It was a reminder that his support for Palestine is not limited to statements about the conflict itself. He has also been willing to challenge the businesses and institutions he believes are connected to it.
October 2026: Sending a Message to Macklemore’s Free Palestine Concert
Ruffalo also lent his voice to Macklemore’s Free Palestine Tour, which opened in Dublin on October 26, 2026.
The actor appeared in a prerecorded video message played during the concert, encouraging the audience to continue advocating for Palestinian freedom.
“Keep fighting for a free Palestine, humanity all over the world, and equality amongst the people,” he said. “There will be no peace until there’s equality.”
The benefit concert brought together artists including Hozier, Kneecap and Beoga, with proceeds going towards organisations providing humanitarian assistance and support for Palestinians.
Ruffalo’s message was simple, but it fit into the larger pattern of his activism: using his visibility to keep Palestine in the conversation and encouraging others to do the same.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Celebrity Speaking Out
From calling for the release of a Palestinian teenager to endorsing a Senate candidate, Ruffalo’s support for Palestine has taken many different forms over the years.
He has used his social media, his red-carpet appearances, his interviews, and now his political endorsements to keep the conversation going. And while his approach has changed depending on the moment, the message has remained consistent: Palestinian lives matter, and achieving peace means standing up for equality.
For Ruffalo, supporting Palestine isn’t just about making a statement. It’s about using whatever platform he has to push for a different future, and encouraging others to do the same.
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