While accepting an award at the San Sebastian Film Festival, actor Javier Bardem took the opportunity to speak about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Bardem condemned both recent Hamas attacks and “the enormous punishment the Palestinian population is suffering”. His speech called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas and a verdict by the International Criminal Court against Hamas leaders responsible for the October 7 attacks, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

in an interview with The Associated PressBardem explained why he felt it was important to address the situation. “I believe we can and must help bring peace. If we adopt a different approach, we will get different results,” he said, stressing the need for a culture of peace and co-existence.

Bardem’s comments came before Iran’s attack on Israel on Tuesday. “The security and prosperity of Israel and the health and future of independent Palestine will be possible only through a culture of peace, co-existence and respect,” he said.

Bardem also criticized the continuing cycle of violence. “Why now? Because to stop negotiations and return to the previous status quo, as they say, or as we are seeing now, to engage in a race of further violations of international law, would be to continue the war and ultimately make us fall off a cliff.

Highlighting the humanitarian cost of the conflict, he said, “We are seeing crimes against human rights, crimes under international law, such as, for example, restrictions on food, water, medicines, electricity, access, as UNICEF says , war.” The trauma being perpetrated against children and across generations. We cannot remain indifferent to this.”

Bardem has previously spoken out on global issues, when he signed an open letter calling for peace during the 2014 conflict between Israel and Hamas. A few years ago, he addressed a United Nations committee on the issue of refugees in Western Sahara, about which he also narrated a documentary. Additionally, Bardem is an environmental advocate, speaking to the United Nations in 2019 about the need to protect the world’s oceans.