Gal Gadot’s “Wonder Woman” has been banned in Lebanon, a theater chain in the country announced on Wednesday.
The ban was called to order roughly two hours before the film was scheduled to screen in Lebanon’s movie theaters. An individual with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news to TheWrap.
#WonderWoman has been banned in #Lebanon.
— Grand Cinemas Lebanon (@GCLebanon) May 31, 2017
On Tuesday, it was reported Lebanon was seeking to ban the Patty Jenkins-directed film because the lead actress is an Israeli. At the time, no formal request had been received. The ban required a recommendation from a six-ministry-member committee.
A boycott group called Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon has campaigned against showing the movie in Lebanon, according to the Associated Press. The campaign praised the ministry’s call on its Facebook page, advocating a ban because Gadot was a soldier in the Israeli army and has expressed support for Israel’s military policies against the Gaza Strip, a coastal Palestinian territory run by the militant Hamas group.
In a popular post on her Facebook page, Gadot had praised Israel’s military during the Gaza-Israel 2014 war, sending prayers to Israeli soldiers “who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas.”
Lebanon is at war with Israel and has a law that spans over decades, boycotting Israeli products and barring Lebanese citizens from traveling or having contact with Israelis.
The AP also noted that the Israeli actress appeared in “Fast & Furious” films, none of which were banned in Lebanon. She was crowned Miss Israel and went on to serve the mandatory two-year military service before starting her acting career.
“Wonder Woman” opens in the United States this Friday and also stars Chris Pine and Robin Wright. It was directed by Patty Jenkins.
Lebanon’s economy ministry has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.