Over 1,200 prominent personalities met up in Los Angeles on Nov. 1 to raise $60 million for the Israeli military, known as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF.)
The supporters of Israel attended the annual Western Region Gala hosted by Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), an organization dedicated to Israeli soldiers and veterans.
To the dismay of advocates of the Palestinian cause, the star-studded gala brought together major figures in the fields of politics, business, technology, and entertainment, including a number of Hollywood stars.
Among the attendees were American actor Ashton Kutcher, Scottish actor Gerard Butler and American rapper Pharrell Williams, who performed at the event.
GUESS founders Maurice and Paul Marciano also took part in the fundraiser, along with retired basketball players A. C. Green and Ralph Sampson.
Additionally, the gala celebrated Israeli Colonel Shai Siman-Tov, who was reportedly left paralyzed during Operation Protective Edge, as a hero. Also known as the 2014 Gaza war, Operation Protective Edge >saw Israeli forces kill more than 2,100 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in less than two months.
The sold-out gala saw FIDF raise the highest-ever amount of money in a single event in the organization's history, according to the Associated Press.
The major donations made at the gala were $10 million from Israeli-American doctor and political donor Miriam Adelson and her husband Sheldon G. Adelson, a billionaire business magnate.
FIDF National Board Member Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl Saban also announced a $10 million contribution.
According to FIDF, funds raised at the gala will be used as academic scholarships for Israeli veterans, financial assistance for soldiers and their families, as well as renovation fees for IDF facilities.
Social media uproar
While Israeli publications hailed the event as a victory, social media users were quick to criticize organizers of the event and its attendees, calling out Hollywood stars in particular.