Shocking reason behind the ban of Snow White 2025 movie in Lebanon

The Lebanese government has decided to ban the new version of Disney's "Snow White" film from being shown in all cinemas in the country due to the participation of Israeli actress Gal Gadot in the lead role, according to a decision issued by Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmed Hajjar. This decision was based on a recommendation from the film monitoring committee affiliated with the General Security, which submitted a report to the Ministry of Interior indicating Gadot's name on the "blacklist" compiled by the Arab League's Israel Boycott Office, which prohibits the screening of any artistic work involving individuals listed on this list. Gal Gadot, who plays the role of the evil queen opposite Rachel Zegler as Snow White in the film, recently received a star in her name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a step that sparked protests from supporters of the Palestinian cause who gathered before the ceremony chanting slogans in support of Palestine. Although the ban decision is part of Lebanon's official commitments to implement boycott resolutions, many voices within the country have expressed concerns about the economic impact of the move, especially on the local cinema sector. Carlo Vincenti, chairman of Italy Film, the film's distributor in Lebanon, pointed out that the decision does not affect Gadot or the production company, as the Israeli actress has already received her fee in advance, and the loss will fall entirely on Lebanese institutions, from theaters to the employees working in them. Directed by Marc Webb, the film reimagines the famous classic story in a vibrant cinematic style, but the Lebanese audience will not be able to watch it due to this ban, making the issue a new example of the intersection of politics and art in the region.