Javier Bardem Says Netanyahu, Trump, and Putin Fuel Ongoing Genocide in Gaza at Cannes

At the Cannes Film Festival in France, Spanish actor Javier Bardem said that what is happening in the Gaza Strip amounts to an "ongoing genocide" and linked the war to leaders he named as responsible for fueling wars.

Bardem, speaking during a Sunday press conference peppered with profanity, added that "This problem also includes Mr. (President of the United States Donald) Trump, Mr. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, and Mr. (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu."

Al Jazeera

France 24 reported that Bardem blamed those leaders for pushing wars for masculine reasons, and said the competition to prove masculinity toward others drives them to bomb other countries in a devastating way.

Bardem also told AFP that he is receiving offers "more than ever" despite his anti-Israel stance, attributing it to a "shift in the narrative" globally regarding the conflict.

France 24 said Bardem argued that "genocide... continues" in the destroyed and besieged Palestinian territory, where more than 72,000 people have been killed according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.

As the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup drew global attention, Palestinian Information Center described a Gaza Strip where war, destruction, and displacement overshadow football, with deteriorating economic conditions and frequent power and communications outages.

Captain Mustafa Nofal, a football coach in Gaza, told the correspondent that the enthusiasm for the World Cup remains among youth but that the harsh living realities have forced citizens to prioritize food, water, and daily living supplies.

Amnesty International

The same source said the cost of subscribing to channels that broadcast the tournament remained one of the main obstacles for fans, alongside the difficulty of obtaining reception devices amid entry restrictions.

Mondoweiss described Palestinians in Gaza gathering across the Strip for specially prepared screenings, including a World Cup match between Egypt and Belgium that kicked off at 10 p.m. local time.

Raed Azoum, a displaced resident from Rafah who attended a public screening, said, "This is a festival, not a match," and added, "Personally, I felt as if the war had ended."

Anadolu Ajansı said European countries continued to export weapons to Israel despite the ongoing genocide in Gaza, stating that the vast majority of European Union member states did not stop arms exports to Israel.

TRT World reported that Germany's opposition Left Party officially labelled Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” after a resolution adopted by a large majority at the party’s national convention in the eastern city of Potsdam.

TRT World quoted the resolution saying, "International organisations, human rights organisations, and numerous experts in international law speak of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. We concur with this assessment," and stressed Israel and Palestine’s right to exist.

TRT World also said that although a ceasefire has been in place since October 10, 2025, Israeli attacks and restrictions have continued, leaving more than 1,000 additional Palestinians dead and over 3,100 injured since the truce took effect.

In the same broader context of political framing around the war, France 24 reported Bardem’s warning that if people justify genocide with silence or support, "you are an accomplice to genocide."