Mark Ruffalo, famous for playing the Hulk in the Marvel films, has again spoken strongly in favour of Palestine and against Israel’s actions in Gaza. He has repeatedly described Israeli actions as oppression and apartheid and said he is not afraid of risking his Hollywood career to highlight Palestinian suffering.
Ruffalo has stressed that staying silent is not an option for him. He believes the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a major injustice that demands global attention, even though his stance has led to criticism and accusations of antisemitism.
In a related development, a hotel in Nagano, central Japan, refused a booking from an Israeli travel agency. According to Japanese media, hotel management said it was “dissatisfied with actions taken against the Palestinian people,” which led to the rejection.
The move angered the Israeli Embassy in Japan, which sent a letter to the Nagano prefectural government on October 21, calling for an official investigation. After reviewing the matter, local authorities issued a verbal warning to the hotel operator, saying the refusal could be seen as discrimination based on nationality under Japanese guidelines.
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This incident comes as public debate in Japan over Israel’s war on Gaza grows stronger. Many Japanese citizens have openly shown solidarity with Palestinians. Earlier, a hotel in Kyoto sparked controversy by asking an Israeli tourist to declare he had not committed war crimes during military service.
In recent months, large demonstrations across Japan, including in Tokyo, have demanded an immediate end to Israel’s war on Gaza. Protesters have highlighted the scale of destruction and civilian suffering.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,000 others, according to Palestinian health authorities. Much of Gaza has been destroyed, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
This story shows how the Gaza war is shaping opinions far beyond the Middle East. Support for Palestine is becoming louder, even in places like Japan. Israel’s actions are now being questioned not only by activists but also by public figures and ordinary citizens worldwide.
