Why was Gal Gadot Chosen to be the 2026 Laureate of the $1 Million Genesis Prize?

The Selection Committee recognized Gadot’s unequivocal support for Israel, which has given voice to the anguish and resilience of Israelis and Jews around the world since 2023. The committee noted Gadot’s unrelenting advocacy for the hostages until their release in October, her desire to help heal and repair Israel after two years of trauma and war, and her compassion for all innocent victims of the brutal war unleashed by Hamas on October 7.

Gal Gadot did not receive the Genesis Prize because of her celebrity status. Rather, the Selection Committee recognized her as a globally influential, passionate, and courageous advocate for Israel and the Jewish people – a woman unafraid to speak her conscience, even in a climate of escalating antisemitism and hostility toward Israel. The Genesis Prize also honors her as a humanitarian, committed to translating her values into tangible philanthropic impact.

As a beloved personality, with a global following, and an Israeli proud of her Jewish heritage, Gadot is uniquely positioned to be the face and the heart of this effort to help Israel heal.

Gadot frequently used her international platform – which includes over 100 million followers on social media – to keep the plight of the hostages at the top of the global agenda. She called publicly for their release, shared messages of support on social media, and mobilized attention among global influencers, journalists, and entertainment leaders. Additionally, Gadot visited the freed hostages and hostage families when she traveled to Israel.

Other prominent entertainers who have been outspoken in their support for Israel include Jerry Seinfeld, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Helen Mirren, Debra Messing, Montana Tucker, Mark Hamill, and the late Ozzy Osbourne. While we admire all of them, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on confidential committee deliberations and disclose whether any of these amazing and brave individuals were considered for the Genesis Prize this year.

We should also note that 2015 Genesis Prize Laureate Michael Douglas went to Israel on a solidarity mission in 2024. He visited the communities devastated by Hamas attacks in southern Israel, and as documented in the Associated Press’s coverage of his visit, he experienced a profound shock from the loss and devastation he witnessed, which he shared with the rest of the world.

Not at all. The Genesis Prize is not a political award. It is not within our remit to endorse or oppose government policies. The mission of the prize is to strengthen Jewish identity – a goal that cannot be achieved without a strong and secure Jewish state. When Israel faces existential danger, and Jews are murdered on a scale unseen since the Holocaust, support for Israel becomes a top priority. This response is neither surprising nor unique: Hundreds of humanitarian organizations in Israel and the diaspora have responded in the same way to the events of October 7 and the subsequent war. The committee’s recent laureate decisions reflect the realities the Jewish world has faced since that date.

President Milei received the Genesis Prize for his unequivocal support of Israel and for radically changing Argentina’s historically entrenched anti-Israel policy, which had endured for decades prior to his election. He took this bold step at a crucial moment – when Israel was at war and increasingly isolated on the world stage. Under Milei’s leadership, Argentina opened new avenues of economic, cultural, and security cooperation with Israel. The Genesis Prize Foundation created American Friends of Isaac Accords (AFOIA) to extend this momentum to other countries in Latin America.

Like all other Genesis Prize Laureates, Gadot has declined the monetary award and asked GPF to direct funds toward a philanthropic program focused on healing and rehabilitation in Israel.

To prepare, we analyzed publicly available figures released by Israeli government agencies, such as the Health Ministry and the National Emergency Management Authority. We also reviewed data from Israeli nonprofits, such as NATAL – Israel Trauma and Resilience Center and other reputable NGOs.

We focused on several key areas: displacement, mental health, trauma rehabilitation, and economic and employment disruption, to name just a few; this is not an exhaustive list.

The figures reveal a nation deeply scarred by the war. Some 250,000 Israelis were internally displaced at the height of the conflict in 2023. The figure declined to about 140,000 in 2024. Even today, as many as 60,000 households await permanent resettlement, meaning their communities have been permanently destroyed, and these residents will never go back to their homes. Since 2023, some 16,000 wounded servicemen and women have received treatment, with 50% of them suffering from post-traumatic stress.

For a nation of 10 million people, these numbers are stark. They already suggest the direction of our effort. A great deal of work is being done – by government agencies, by local authorities, and by many nonprofits.

As always, our intention is to take a systemic approach – to understand the most urgent needs, identify where private funding could have a transformative impact. This work is still in progress. Further announcements will be made in due course as we finalize the framework and prepare to launch the program early in 2026.

Along with many in the Jewish world, we are grateful for their successful efforts in securing the release of the living hostages and arranging for a ceasefire in Gaza. Other candidates were certainly considered, but the Selection Committee decided that Gadot was the most appropriate choice, and that her philanthropic theme of healing was timely and relevant.

The 2027 laureate will be selected a year from now. It wouldn’t be prudent to speculate on who that may be so far in advance.