Calls to Ban “Snow White” Film in Jordan Over Israeli Actress’s Genocidal Military Past

Demands have grown in Jordan to ban the upcoming “Snow White” film, scheduled for release in Jordanian cinemas in mid-April 2025, due to the involvement of actress Gal Gadot, a former soldier in the Israeli occupation terrorists army, who plays the Evil Queen. The controversy centers around accusations of cultural normalization.

Jordanian MP Nour Abu Ghosh officially inquired with the Jordanian Media Commission regarding plans to screen the movie in the kingdom. She stressed that Gadot’s participation, given her previous military service and vocal support for the Israeli occupation, is provocative to Jordanians and contradicts their stance against normalization.

Abu Ghosh emphasized that allowing the film to be screened conflicts with Jordan’s official position on the Palestinian cause and urged authorities to take clear action to prevent its release.

Meanwhile, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Jordan reaffirmed its firm rejection of the film’s screening. It stated that featuring an actress known for endorsing the occupation’s crimes contributes to promoting and whitewashing the image of the Israeli state internationally, thus normalizing its unlawful existence in global cultural spheres.

Speaking to Arabi21, BDS described enabling individuals like Gadot to occupy prominent global cinematic spaces—particularly amid ongoing genocidal actions by the Israeli occupation in Gaza—as unacceptable attempts to conceal the occupation’s criminal behavior.

BDS Jordan, supported by over 100 local civil society organizations, urged the Jordanian Media Commission to prohibit the film’s screening, also calling upon cinema houses to refrain from showing it. Furthermore, it appealed to global advocates for freedom and justice to boycott the film entirely.

The film “Snow White,” a modern remake of the classic Disney movie, stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. Gadot’s involvement has sparked significant controversy due to her public support for the Israeli occupation and her role in promoting narratives supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza, including special screenings of films aligned with the occupation’s narrative.

This is not the first time Hollywood productions featuring Gadot have faced regional backlash. The film “Death on the Nile” was previously banned in several Arab countries due to her involvement and support for the Israeli military and occupation.

Amid rising public campaigns and parliamentary pressures, the Jordanian public awaits the official decision regarding the screening of “Snow White.” Opponents argue that permitting its release contradicts Jordan’s historical support for Palestinian rights and insist on a definitive stance against all forms of cultural normalization, especially amidst the escalating genocide in Gaza.