Bar Refaeli Criticizes Penélope Cruz Over Instagram Posts

A controversy has erupted in Israel surrounding actress Penélope Cruz after she posted a pair of conflicting Instagram stories that sparked public outrage.

In the first story, Cruz expressed joy over the return of Israeli hostages home. But shortly after, she shared footage showing a Palestinian prisoner reuniting with his family, captioning it with words about “the joy of reconciliation and the return of loved ones.”

The contrasting tone of these posts provoked a wave of anger among Israeli social media users. The sharpest reaction came from supermodel Bar Refaeli, who addressed Cruz directly in her own story:  “Penélope, are you serious? How can you compare the return of hostages with the release of terrorists? You’re giving a platform to those responsible for the suffering of innocents.”

The debate quickly gained traction in the Hebrew-speaking online community. Israeli media outlets, including Mako and Walla, noted that this isn’t the first time Cruz’s posts have stirred controversy.

As of now, the actress has not responded to the criticism from Israeli celebrities.