American organizations connected to the controversial celebrity campaign, which has been criticized for using symbols associated with Palestinian terrorism, have ties to George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF).
Critics lambasted “Artists4Ceasefire” for utilizing a “red-hand symbol,” which they claim gained prominence in Palestinian protest movements following a 2000 lynching incident in Ramallah.
According to their website, the “Artists4Ceasefire” organization receives support from two groups associated with OSF: ActionAID USA and Oxfam America.
Since 2016, OSF has been a significant contributor to Oxfam America, providing almost $14 million in donations from 2016 to 2022. Moreover, Smita Singh, who previously served as the chief strategy officer at OSF, currently holds the position of chair on the governing board of Oxfam America.
According to the latest available reports from ActionAID USA for 2021 and 2022, “The Open Society Institute,” now recognized as The Open Society Foundations, was listed as the third-highest donor on both financial documents.
Preparations for the celebrity campaign advocating for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza commenced shortly after the October 7 attacks, notable for Hamas’s reported use of “rape as a weapon of war” and the kidnapping of American and Israeli civilians.
According to WHOIS, a domain registration tracker, around 10 days following the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, specifically on October 17, the domain “Artists4Ceasefire.org” was registered.
The campaign gained significant attention when celebrities such as Billie Eilish and Mark Ruffalo showcased its distinctive red symbol at the Oscars, grabbing major headlines.
“To those who wore the red hand pin at the Oscars, this is what every Israeli and Palestinian thinks of when he sees a red hand: the lynching of 2 Israelis by Palestinians in 2000 in a police station,” Ofir Gendelman, an Israeli government spokesperson, said.
“The murderers drenched their hands in their victims’ blood, celebrating their murder. Don’t support that,” he added.
One specific image from the terror attack became iconic in Palestinian protest culture when Aziz Salha, one of the killers, waved his bloodstained hands to the crowd from the window of the police station, further inciting the crowd.
Salha was quoted as saying, “We were in a craze to see blood.” Critics argue that it was during this period that the red hand symbol gained popularity in certain pro-Palestinian circles.
“The red pins were meticulously fashioned under the guise of a ‘cease-fire’ [but have]… sinister origins,” Liora Rez from the group StopAntisemitism previously told Fox News Digital.
After the controversy, the pro-Gaza campaign released a statement calling the allegations, “completely false.”
“[T]his movement is rooted in love, inclusion and a just peace for all people,” the campaign said in a statement. It also claimed the hand was orange, not red.
OSF has been contributing to the Tides Foundation, a nonprofit previously reported by Fox News Digital to financially support strongly anti-Israel groups. A spokesperson for OSF stated they condemn Hamas and advocate for a future that upholds the rights and freedoms of all.
OSF directed Fox News Digital to a statement indicating, “Many of our partners have been at the forefront of pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza. Open Society itself has publicly taken this position and continues to advocate for an end to fighting.”
“Many of the groups that Open Society helps fund have different perspectives and routinely disagree with each other. As a funder that respects the expertise and independence of those we fund, Open Society supports partners who take a variety of positions on particular strategies of non-violent opposition, without itself taking a position.”
Furthermore, OSF clarified that they do not endorse Hamas and highlighted their contributions of over $17 million to causes benefiting Israel and Palestinians in 2023.
