Legendary action star Jackie Chan isn’t shy about expressing controversial political opinions. Chan, who was born in British Hong Kong, hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the city, siding with the Chinese government during HK independence protests and downplaying Taiwan’s insistence on their independence.
Though the 71-year-old might be a little less popular in his hometown than he used to be, his opinions don’t appear to have harmed his career and global reputation too much. That might change, as he’s now waded into Israel’s genocide in Palestine – and come down firmly on the side of the Palestinians.
Speaking during a Dec. 31 public appearance to promote his new movie Panda Plan, Chan revealed his reaction to seeing a child in Gaza being asked what he wanted to become when he grew up. Chan says the child said, “Children on our side never get to grow up”:
🇵🇸Jackie Chan raises his voice against the suffering of Palestinian children in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/FIVDo88KDL
— Censored Humans (@CensoredHumans) December 31, 2025
“As soon as I saw that child speak, I started crying. He was asked ‘What will you be when you grow up?’. He said, ‘Children on our side don’t grow up’. Wow, my tears just came falling down instantly. Gaza… The children of Gaza… Every day, being bombed… you see… When he said that sentence he had no expression. … So you see, growing old is a form of happiness.”
He’s right to cry
He’s right to be horrified. Israel’s campaign of genocide against Gaza has (according to UNICEF) killed around 50,000 innocent children. The MSF has concluded that almost half (48%) of those killed by Israel are children, with Al Jazeera reporting that an average of 28 children are murdered each day by Israeli forces.
This is notable for Chan because China has a “comprehensive partnership” with Israel. China is Israel’s single greatest supplier of consumer goods, and the two nations have multiple key tech partnerships.
But China is definitely more sympathetic to Palestine than any other world power and has called for the immediate suspension of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. So, while it may not be exactly what CCP leaders want to hear from Chan, it’s doubtful he’ll be censured for this.
With Israel ringing in 2026 by announcing that they’re preventing 37 major aid agencies like MSF, ActionAid, and the International Rescue Committee from entering Gaza, it seems like the new year will just bring more misery for Palestinians. Here’s hoping that one day justice arrives for those who commit genocide, though right now that feels like a long way away.
Published: Jan 2, 2026 07:37 am