Several Arab organisations have renewed calls to boycott Disney’s latest Snow White film, denouncing the casting of Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress and former soldier in the Israeli army, as part of a campaign to oppose her vocal support for Israel amid its ongoing assault on Gaza.
The campaign comes as Snow White, set for release this week, faces mounting controversy, with critics accusing Disney of enabling the whitewashing of Israeli occupation through Gadot’s prominent role as the film’s Evil Queen.
Rights activists argue that Gadot’s public support for Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed over 61,700 people – mostly women and children –Â makes her unfit to be part of a high-profile production marketed to global audiences, including those in the Arab world.
Activists have urged cinemas across the region to refuse to screen the film, promoting hashtags such as #BoycottSnowWhite, #BoycottGalGadot, and #SnowWhiteWithOccupationFlavour in a coordinated digital protest.
Boycott campaignÂ
The boycott campaign has been backed by various organisations across the Arab world, including groups from Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt, all of whom have consistently opposed cultural normalisation with Israel.
These include Jordan’s Campaign for Supporting Resistance and Opposing Normalisation, the Bahrain Society Against Normalisation, the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon, the Tunisian Campaign to Boycott and Resist Normalisation, the Popular Movement in Egypt to Resist Zionism and Filmmakers Against Normalisation.
“Gal Gadot does not represent art – she represents occupation, violence, and a military force that continues to commit atrocities against Palestinians,” the groups said in a joint statement.
“Allowing her to star in Snow White is an attempt to sanitise her image and distract from her unwavering support for Israeli aggression.”
The controversy surrounding Gadot has only added to the film’s turbulent run, which has faced a series of challenges tied to cultural and political issues.
While Disney has faced previous backlash over casting decisions and social issues, this latest controversy has led to widespread calls for a regional boycott in the Arab world.
Despite Disney’s attempts to limit press coverage at the film’s recent Los Angeles premiere, the boycott movement has gained momentum online, with activists insisting that screening Snow White in Arab cinemas would amount to promoting a figure closely tied to Israel’s military actions and ongoing violations in Gaza.
Arab boycott campaigners argue that showcasing Gadot in a major Disney production sends a troubling message, particularly at a time when Gaza remains under siege with tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties reported.
The groups behind the campaign insist that their efforts are not only about Snow White but also part of a broader push to challenge public figures who defend Israeli military actions, arguing that “no platform should be given to supporters of oppression and violence”.
