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Veteran British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes, celebrated for her role in "Harry Potter" and an OBE recipient, has ignited a firestorm of controversy with her stark and emotionally charged condemnation of Israel's ongoing occupation of Gaza. In a recent interview, Margolyes, who is Jewish, made the heartbreaking assertion that "Hitler won" by making Jewish people "like him," drawing a direct and chilling parallel between the atrocities of Nazi Germany and Israel's current military actions against Palestinians.
Margolyes, 83, expressed profound sorrow and outrage, stating that while she fully acknowledges the "wickedness and cruelty" inflicted upon Jews during the Holocaust, she believes the Israeli government is now perpetrating similar horrors against Palestinians in Gaza.
Speaking to The Big Issue, the actress lamented, "I cannot bear to think that my people are doing exactly the same thing to another nation." She passionately highlighted that the Palestinian people bear no responsibility for the Holocaust, emphasizing, "the Palestinian nation, was not responsible for the Holocaust, it had nothing to do with it. That was a purely European pleasure." Her voice heavy with anguish, she concluded, "So my heart is broken and I think the terrible thing I have to face is Hitler won. He changed us. He made us like him."
These potent remarks have provoked a furious backlash from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), which has swiftly called for Margolyes to be stripped of her OBE, awarded in 1993 for her performance in "The Age of Innocence." A CAA spokesman denounced her comments as "racist bilge," asserting that her Jewish heritage does not grant her "licence to use her immense platform to spread anti-Jewish venom." The group further demanded that she be "shunned by the show business world" and stripped of her BAFTA. The CAA confirmed it would be formally writing to the Honours Forfeiture Committee to request the removal of her OBE.
Earlier in the week, Margolyes echoed these sentiments on social media, stating that Hitler had transformed Jews "from being compassionate and caring... into this vicious, genocidal, nationalist nation."
This is not the first time Margolyes has openly criticized Israel's conduct in Gaza. The outspoken actress has a consistent history of making controversial statements regarding the conflict, previously expressing that she had "never been so ashamed of Israel" over its military tactics. She has also vocally urged Jewish communities globally to "shout, beg, scream for a ceasefire" in Gaza, standing in solidarity with the besieged Palestinian population.
In a notable incident in October last year, Margolyes was cleared by the BBC's highest complaints body, the Executive Complaints Unit, after using the phrase "Jewish and vile" during an interview. The ruling affirmed that her comments, despite a complaint, were not racist.
Margolyes's latest, powerful comparison of Israel's actions to Nazi atrocities has resonated deeply with pro-Palestinian supporters across social media, who have amplified her message as a testament to the growing international outcry against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The intensified scrutiny on Israel's actions in Gaza comes amid mounting international pressure, fueled by widespread reports and images of starvation among the territory's two million residents, with aid being severely restricted. Heart-wrenching pictures of emaciated Palestinian children circulating on social media have further galvanized public opinion, increasing calls for an end to the nearly two-year-long conflict.
Domestically, in a significant political development, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has publicly supported a push by over one-third of Labour MPs for the UK to follow France's lead and formally recognize the Palestinian state. This move puts considerable pressure on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has so far resisted, reportedly fearing the party could lose up to 20 seats in the upcoming election over the contentious issue.
As Miriam Margolyes continues to bravely voice her convictions, her words serve as a stark reminder of the deep divisions and moral dilemmas surrounding the ongoing human catastrophe in Gaza, urging the world to confront the uncomfortable truths of historical parallels and contemporary injustices.
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