Hend Sabri, a famous Tunisian actor, resigned from her position as a goodwill ambassador for the World Food Program in protest of what she perceived as the use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.
Leading actress in Arab cinema, Sabri, said that she was leaving the UN agency after 13 years, citing “a heavy heart and deep sadness” as her reason.
The 44-year-old said that she had asked the WFP leadership to press for an emergency humanitarian ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian region in a message posted on social media site X late on Wednesday.
As it did in past crises, she expressed her hope that the agency “would use its voice forcefully.”
“Yet, Sabri stated, starvation and hunger have been employed as weapons of war against over two million civilians in Gaza.”
She continued, saying that the fighting break that was set to begin on Friday was “too little, too late.”
At this year’s Cannes film festival, Sabri’s most recent feature film, “Four Daughters,” shared first place in the documentary film category.
Following her resignation, the WFP offered its “heartfelt gratitude” for Sabri’s “unwavering support and dedication” as goodwill ambassador.