Fauda Co-Creator Dismisses Mark Ruffalo’s Genocide Warning, Ignores Gaza Realities
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Avi Issacharoff, co-creator of Fauda, attacked Mark Ruffalo for calling Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide, downplaying humanitarian suffering and relying on Israeli government talking points, as international bodies and rights groups warn of possible genocidal acts.
During a London event for the Tel Aviv University Trust, Avi Issacharoff, co-creator of the Netflix series Fauda, lashed out at actor Mark Ruffalo for accurately describing Israel’s conduct in Gaza as genocide. Issacharoff resorted to personal insults, calling Ruffalo “a rare combination of stupid and ignorant,” and tried to deflect from the reality by claiming that Israel allows 600 trucks of food and supplies into Gaza daily and that more Palestinians have been born than killed during the conflict—a claim that flies in the face of mounting evidence of mass civilian casualties and deprivation.
Issacharoff cited figures from the Israeli government after the October 2025 ceasefire, claiming 600-800 trucks entered Gaza daily. Israeli officials boast that food deliveries exceed international benchmarks, but blame Hamas and local distribution for ongoing shortages, conveniently ignoring the devastating impact of Israel’s blockade and bombardment. Meanwhile, United Nations agencies continue to report severe restrictions on humanitarian operations, delayed shipments, and catastrophic water insecurity affecting 90 percent of Gaza’s population—evidence of a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Israeli policy.
Issacharoff’s claim that births outnumber deaths is unsubstantiated. UNICEF estimated about 20,000 births in the first 105 days of the war, while Gaza health authorities reported 71,803 Palestinian deaths by February 2026. The 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as specific acts with intent to destroy a protected group, not merely population decline—a standard that independent UN investigators say Israel has met. No international court has yet ruled on genocide, but South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice is ongoing, and Israel continues to deny all responsibility, insisting its actions target Hamas. A UN Human Rights Council commission found Israeli authorities committed four of five genocidal acts with the necessary intent, a finding Israel dismissed as ‘politically motivated.’ Amnesty International and other human rights groups have echoed these grave concerns, though some governments and scholars continue to equivocate.
Ruffalo’s comments came as he opposed Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, linking it to corporate complicity in Israel’s crimes. Paramount responded by accusing Ruffalo of antisemitism—a tactic often used to silence criticism of Israeli policy—which Ruffalo rejected, insisting that condemning Israeli actions or corporate support is not antisemitic. The controversy has split Hollywood, with nearly 1,000 entertainment figures attacking Ruffalo, while over 180 Jewish artists and scholars defended his right to speak out. Neither Ruffalo nor Issacharoff provided further comment.