LeBron James, the star of the Los Angeles Lakers, and his business partner Maverick Carter, released a joint statement on X, previously known as Twitter, on Wednesday, condemning the Hamas attacks on Israel as both tragic and unacceptable. "The situation in Israel is deeply saddening and completely unacceptable. The acts of terrorism committed by Hamas, resulting in the murder and violence against innocent individuals, must be condemned," expressed James and Carter.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Gaza crisis grows under intense bombardment as Israel retaliates to Hamas atrocities
The SpringHill Company family extends our heartfelt condolences to Israel and the Jewish community. We stand in solidarity and uphold our unwavering pledge to combat hatred in all its manifestations, while also fervently praying for peace in the region.
James has been an advocate for social justice and racial equality for a considerable amount of time.
"In 2021," James stated, "I will never remain silent regarding injustices. I passionately speak out about the issues affecting my community, such as equality, social justice, racism, and voter suppression."
The gunmen carried out a coordinated attack, taking the lives of over 1,200 individuals and leaving thousands wounded. During their rampage through farms and communities, they also seized approximately 150 hostages. Following these heinous acts, Israel has intensified its offensive in Gaza.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 1,200, with numerous casualties among women and children. In addition, the ongoing Israeli air strikes have left thousands injured and obliterated buildings, resulting in the destruction of entire streets and the subsequent trapping of residents.
Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12
A Palestinian woman covered in dust and dirt carries a child in Gaza City on October 12.
Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli soldier walks by a house destroyed by Hamas militants in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 11.
Baz Ratner/AP
People carry bodies of Palestinians killed during an Israeli airstrike prior to their burial in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Wednesday, October 11.
Abed Rahim Khatib/Picture-Alliance/Getty Images
An aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza City on October 11.
Yahya Hassouna/AFP/Getty Images
Francisco Seco/AP
Palestinians run from Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.
Abed Zagout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Israeli soldiers load donated food into the back of a military vehicle in Sderot, Israel, on October 11.
Bullet holes can be observed in a shattered window situated at the entrance of a kindergarten in Be'eri, Israel, on October 11. Hamas militants directed their initial attacks towards this agricultural community adjacent to Gaza on October 7.
A mourner reacts while burying a child from the al-Agha family, who were killed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
A boy carries salvaged belongings from the wreckage of his family's home in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.
Yousef Masoud/The New York Times/Redux
Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on the seaport of Gaza City on Tuesday, October 10.
Mohammed Salem/Reuters
Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times/Redux
Palestinians mourn during the funeral of a relative killed in an Israeli strike, in Gaza City on October 10.
Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images
Mourning individuals gather at the burial site of Eden Guez for her funeral in Ashkelon, Israel, on October 10. Eden tragically lost her life while attending a music festival that faced an attack by terrorists from Gaza. Israeli authorities have reported a staggering count of at least 260 casualties at the Nova Festival.
Israeli soldiers take position in Kfar Aza near the border with Gaza on October 10.
Atef Safadi/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Palestinians rescue a young girl from the rubble of a destroyed residential building following an Israeli airstrike on October 10.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Palestinians walk amid the rubble following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 10.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Israelis in Ashkelon take cover in a shelter as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets on October 10.
Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
Fatima Shbair/AP
Israelis mourn as they attend the funeral of Israel Defense Forces soldier Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg at Mount Herzel Cemetery in Jerusalem, on October 10.
Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian man reacts as he carries the body of his cousin who was pulled from the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Monday, October 9.
A family takes shelter at a neighbor's house after their home was damaged in an Israeli airstrike in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza on October 9.
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
Children run for cover as bombs fall near the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 9.
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
People take shelter in Jerusalem on October 9.
Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux
The ruins of the Yassin mosque are seen in the Shati refugee camp just outside Gaza City on October 9.
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
Erik Marmor/AP
Six-month-old Sama Alwadia, who had initially survived the strike, tragically passed away during medical treatment for her injuries after being rescued from the rubble in Gaza City on October 9.
Lightning strikes over Gaza City following an Israeli bombardment on October 9.
Israeli soldiers take position near the border between Gaza and Israel on October 9.
Oren Ziv/AP
A Palestinian man mourns over the body of his nephew killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9.
Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9.
Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Palestinians remove a body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike on the Jebaliya refugee camp in Gaza on October 9.
Ramez Mahmoud/AP
A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9.
Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images
Maya Alleruzzo/AP
Palestinians inspect damage from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's Shati refugee camp on October 9.
Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images
An injured Palestinian child is pictured in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes at al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza on October 9.
Israelis view a damaged residential building in Ashkelon after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza on October 9.
Erik Marmor/AP
Tali Touito reacts as she describes how Hamas gunmen attacked and took over the police station on her street, in Sderot, Israel, on Sunday, October 8.
Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux
A relative of an Israeli missing since the attacks is overcome by emotion during a press conference in Ramat Gan, Israel, on October 8.
Maya Alleruzzo/AP
Palestinians inspect a mosque destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 8.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
Jalaa Marey/AFP/Getty Images
Israelis inspect the rubble of a building in Tel Aviv on October 8, a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza.
Oded Balilty/AP
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza on October 8.
Palestinians search the rubble of a home in Khan Younis that was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes on October 8.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 8.
Ahmad Hasballah/Getty Images
Palestinian children look toward the sky at the sound of airstrikes at a United Nations-run school in Gaza on Saturday, October 7.
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
A woman runs to her family's reinforced concrete shelter moments after rocket sirens sounded in Ashkelon on October 7.
Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux
Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux
Palestinians gather around an Israeli army vehicle that Palestinian militants drove from Israel into Gaza on October 7.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Palestinians break into the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, after gunmen infiltrated parts of southern Israel on October 7.
Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket in Ashkelon on October 7.
Tsafrir Abayov/AP
Israeli police take cover in Ashkelon as sirens wail while rockets are fired from Gaza into Israel on October 7.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli woman reacts over the body of her relative who was killed in the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 7.
Baz Ratner/AP
Children are seen in a damaged house in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes on October 7.
Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters
A man in Ashkelon runs after rockets were launched from Gaza on October 7.
Amir Cohen/Reuters
Israelis donate blood in Jerusalem on October 7.
Palestinians inspect a destroyed building as emergency responders try to contain fires after Israeli jets bombed Gaza on October 7.
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
Outside of a hospital in Gaza, men sit next to the covered body of a Palestinian militant killed during Saturday's clashes.
Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli soldier stands by the bodies of Israelis killed by Palestinian militants in Sderot on October 7.
Tsafrir Abayov/AP licensed
A woman stands in a room damaged by rockets in Ashkelon on October 7.
Amir Cohen/Reuters
Itai Ron/Reuters
Smoke rises as the clashes between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces continue on the streets of Beit Hanun in Gaza on October 7.
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
People take cover in a bomb shelter in Rishon Lezion, Israel, as rockets are launched from Gaza on October 7.
Rockets are fired toward Israel from Gaza on October 7.
Fatima Shbair/AP
In pictures: The deadly clashes in Israel and Gaza
Prev
Next
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) released a joint statement Monday in tribute to those who died during the attacks in Israel.
"Major League Soccer expresses deep sorrow for the loss of life in Israel and firmly condemns all acts of terrorism. Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families and friends during this difficult time. We fervently wish that peace, dialogue, and understanding triumph over violence and hatred."
The violence in Israel was also denounced by the NFL, MLB, and NHL, with statements released by them. Reporting for CNN was contributed by Nada Bashir, Kareem El Damanhoury, Ali Younes, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Rhea Mogul, and David Close.