Lebanese authorities banned the critically-acclaimed movie “Wonder Woman” on Wednesday, hours before it was set to premier in Beirut, on account of its Israeli star Gal Gadot.

Grand Cinema, a chain that had planned to screen the movie in theaters across the country, cancelled the opening and began removing promotional material following the decision, the Associated Press reported.

The move is in accordance with Lebanese laws boycotting Israeli products and prohibiting citizens from traveling to Israel or interacting with Israelis.

“The movie has nothing to do with Israel,” said Tony Chacra, managing director of the distributor Joseph Chacra and Sons, who described the ban as “frustrating.”

Chacra’s company had obtained permission to screen the movie and paid for distribution rights and advertising. According to Chacra, the movie will be shown in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Oman. Previous films featuring Gadot, including Batman vs. Superman and several installments of the Fast and Furious franchise, were shown in Lebanese theaters.

“Even though Lebanon enjoys a greater margin of freedom of expression than other countries in the region, prior censorship remains in place, particularly with content relating to Israel, religion and homosexuality,” the AP explained.

Wonder Woman was banned following the efforts of a group called Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon.

“Thank God the film was banned, and we pledge to work on banning any similar films,” said Samah Idriss, a founder of the campaign. According to Idriss, the campaign was launched because Gadot served in the Israeli army.

In 1994, Lebanon banned the Holocaust movie Schindler’s List.

[Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures / YouTube ]