IO – Harry Potter star Emma Watson has voiced her solidarity with the Palestinian people in an Instagram post on Monday.
The 31-year-old, known for playing Hermione in the films of the renowned fantasy novel series, as well as for her outspoken support for women’s empowerment and human rights, posted a picture of a pro-Palestine protest with the words “solidarity is a verb” in the middle.
In the caption, she wrote as quoted by The New Arab: “Solidarity does not assume that our struggles are the same struggles, or that our pain is the same pain, or that our hope is for the same future.
“ Solidarity involves commitment, and work, as well as the recognition that even if we do not have the same feelings, or same lives, or the same bodies, we do live on common ground.”
The words are based on a quote from British-Australian scholar Sara Ahmed, a self-described feminist writer and independent scholar.
Numerous Palestinian flags and the words “free” and “Palestine” can be clearly seen in Watson’s Instagram photo.
The image is from a solidarity march on 12 May 2021, during the 11-day bombing of Gaza in which over 256 Palestinians died.
The Instagram post received almost 500,000 likes as of Monday.
Watson also paid tribute to Desmond Tutu on her Instagram last week, calling the proPalestine South African leader a “legend” and a “voice for justice”.
Israel’s UN envoy, Gilad Erdan, strongly criticized her post. In his Twitter post, he said, “Fiction may work in Harry Potter but it does not work in reality.” He added, “If it did, the magic used in the wizarding world could eliminate the evils of Hamas (which oppresses women and seeks the annihilation of Israel) and the PA (which supports terror). I would be in favor of that!.”
Another Israel’s envoy to the United Nations Danny Danon also talked about the recent post of Emma Watson. “10 points from Gryffindor for being an antiSemite,” Danon said as quoted by Global Village Space while referring to her character in the famous Harry Potter series from which Watson rose to fame. The actress garnered massive support on both Twitter and Instagram.
Meanwhile, Emma and the others of Harry Potter was reunited in “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts”.
The first poster from the upcoming special “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts”, which is premiering on January 1 has been released.
The reunion commemorated the 20th anniversary of the eight movie series that began with “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”, which was released in November 2001.
“Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” also see stars like Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, and others returning to participate in the special.
J.K. Rowling, the author of the iconic book series, will not be interviewed in the special but will be shown in archival footage about the movies. Because of her anti-trans comments, which have been condemned by the core cast — Rowling has become a figure of instant , and seemingly permanent, controversy in the passionate and vast “Harry Potter” fandom. (rp)