Hannah Einbinder Says Speaking Out for Palestine Is “the Bare Minimum”
Hannah Einbinder says speaking publicly in support of Palestinians is the “bare minimum” given the reach and resources she has as a well-known actor. At a New Yorker Festival event, she said she sees no alternative to using her platform to raise awareness and money, particularly for Palestine.
Einbinder described changing her views after attending IfNotNow vigils and learning more about Israel and Palestine. She cited Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif, killed in an Israeli air strike in August 2025, as an example of the risks faced by journalists reporting from Gaza, and said any personal cost of speaking out would be small by comparison. She has previously called for a “free Palestine” at the 2025 Emmys and was arrested at a protest ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN address.
In short
- Einbinder calls speaking out for Palestine a basic responsibility.
- She says her public platform can help raise money and awareness.
- She contrasted any personal cost with risks faced by Palestinian journalists.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
People with large public platforms can use their reach and resources to draw attention to civilian suffering, support humanitarian fundraising and challenge audiences to learn more. From this perspective, speaking out is a modest responsibility when journalists and civilians face far greater risks, and silence can allow a crisis to remain less visible.
The case against
Public figures may reasonably worry that taking a forceful position on a complex conflict can flatten important distinctions, deepen polarisation or make audiences less receptive to dialogue. They may see their role as supporting humanitarian relief and careful reporting while avoiding public advocacy that could be perceived as partisan or beyond their expertise.