War in the Middle East: Jackie Chan cries for the children in Gaza
During a film premiere in Beijing on December 28, 2025, Jackie Chan was overcome with emotion. An audience question prompted him to reflect. “Growing old is a privilege,” the 71-year-old said, recounting how a video of a child from bombed-out Gaza brought him to tears.
It has been just over two months since the renowned actor Jackie Chan shared his perspective on the suffering in the Gaza Strip with the audience during the premiere of his new film “Unexpected Family” in Beijing. The current attacks in Iran, beginning on February 28, 2026, the retaliatory strike against Israel, and the travel warnings for Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and many other countries have reignited the debate surrounding the endless wars. This is especially true in light of the destruction of a girls’ school in southern Iran, where, according to media reports, over 148 children were killed.
Jackie Chan, who since 1987 with his Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation (JCCF) and since 2004 with The Dragon’s Heart Foundation has helped disadvantaged, disabled, elderly and children in countless charitable projects with donations of goods and money as well as access to education and medical care in many countries around the world, already commented on the suffering of the children in Gaza at the end of December 2025.
When asked by an audience member how his age affected his choice of film roles, the superstar said:
„I watched a video recently. As soon as the child spoke, I started crying. He was asked ‘What will you do when you grow up?’ and he said ‘children here never grow up’.“
Still shaken by the horrific video, which Chan of course also saw on Chinese social media at the time, he continues, while the cinema was completely silent.
„Whoa! My tears just started flowing. Gaza. The children of Gaza… everyday… [sigh] look… When he said that, he had no expression. ‘The children here never grow up’. Whoa! My tears just started flowing.“
At the end, he returns to the initial question and explains:
„This is why growing old is a form of happiness. So, congratulations to people who can grow old.“
These images of Jackie Chan went viral. Many posted them as proof of his solidarity with Palestine, while others criticized him for precisely that. This extreme divide in the debate illustrates the state of the world’s population. Chan, however, merely pointed out the suffering of the children without taking a political stance.
Jackie Chan is not the first or only famous star to publicly address such atrocities. Most recently, an open letter to the Berlinale made headlines in February 2026. Over 80 artists, including Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem, signed the letter, which criticized the handling of the Palestinian issue during the Berlin Film Festival.
In “Unexpected Family” Jackie Chan plays an elderly man who suffers from Alzheimer’s and mistakes a stranger for his deceased son. His neighbours decide to play along to comfort him which results in several heart-breaking scenarios.
