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The 81st Venice International Film Festival has seen a wave of solidarity with Palestinians this week as Israel's brutal offensive on Gaza and the occupied West Bank continues.

Filmmakers, actors, and activists voiced their support for the Palestinian cause, denouncing what they describe as the "genocidal campaign" carried out by Israel against the people of Gaza.

Japanese-American film director Neo Sora made a powerful statement of solidarity with Palestinians on Monday, donning a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh and a Palestinian flag patch on his jacket as he stood on the red carpet.

Sora, who was attending the photocall for his new film HappyEnd in the Orizzonti section, has previously used his social media platforms to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Other members of the Happyend cast were photographed on the red carpet wearing keffiyehs and displaying the Palestinian flag incorporated into their attire.

The show of solidarity with Palestinians comes as Israel's war on Gaza - described as a genocide by top rights experts - has killed over 40,819 people - most of whom were women and children.

It also came just days after around 300 filmmakers signed an open letter to protest against the screening of two Israeli films at the festival.

The protest was aimed at Dani Rosenberg’s Hebrew-language film Al Klavim Veanashim (Of Dogs and Men), based on the backdrop of the 7 October attacks, and Amos Gitai’s Why War.

The letter said the Israeli films were "complicit in whitewashing Israel's oppression against Palestinians", highlighting that the festival had "remained silent about Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinian people. This silence outrages us deeply".

Signatories of the letter include several Palestinian filmmakers and actors, such as Oscar-nominated Hany Abu-Assad, Rosalind Nashashibi, Raed Andoni and Saleh Bakri. 

Other signatories include filmmakers Enrico Parenti and Alessandra Ferrini; actors Niccolò Senni, Simona Cavallari, Chiara Baschetti and Paola Michelini; and screenwriter and David di Donatello nominee Davide Serino.

Tony Award nominee Kathleen Chalfant and filmmakers Saul Williams, Brett Story and Monica Maurer, as well as composer Nitin Sawhney also signed the letter.

The renowned film festival began on 28 August and runs until 7 September in the Italian city of Venice.