Lebanese fashion brand Elie Saab has been slammed for sharing a photo of Israeli actress Gal Gadot wearing a dress from its collection.

The Wonder Woman star was wearing a blue sash dress by the designer as she appeared at the National Board of Review Awards Gala in New York on Tuesday.

An image of Gadot, 32, then appeared on Elie Saab's Instagram page with a description of the 'flawless' actress in 'Ready-to-Wear Spring Summer 2018'.

Israel and its northern neighbour Lebanon have technically been at war since 1948 and the post immediately sparked a backlash online before being removed altogether.

Lebanese fashion brand Elie Saab has been slammed for sharing a photo of Israeli actress Gal Gadot wearing a blue sash dress from its collection. She is pictured wearing the dress in New York this week

An image of Gadot, 32, appeared on Elie Saab's Instagram page with a description of the 'flawless' actress in 'ELIE SAAB Ready-to-Wear Spring Summer 2018'

The Wonder Woman star was wearing a blue sash dress by designer Elie Saab (pictured) as she appeared at the National Board of Review Awards Gala in New York on Tuesday

Last year, Gadot's superhero film Wonder Woman was banned from Lebanese cinemas

Lebanese journalist Heba Bitar was among those to comment, writing on social media: 'I love and respect Elie Saab, but is he really happy an Israeli actress wore a dress he designed?'

Another social media user wrote: 'I'm not gonna ask why would she wear Elie Saab... but I'm asking why would his team post it? Unacceptable!'

Gadot, who served for two years in the Israeli army as a combat trainer, and director Patty Jenkins were handed the Spotlight Award for their work on the 2017 blockbuster Wonder Woman.

Gadot sparked anger in 2014 when she wrote a Facebook post backing Israeli troops during the Gaza War, which left more than 2,000 Palestinians dead.

More than 60 Israeli soldiers and six Israeli civilians were also killed in the conflict.

The posting of the photograph on Elie Saab's Instagram account sparked anger online

Gadot, who served for two years in the Israeli army as a combat trainer, and director Patty Jenkins were handed the Spotlight Award for their work on the 2017 blockbuster Wonder Woman

In the post she said she was sending prayers to Israeli soldiers 'who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas'.

Lebanon is officially at war with Israel and has a decades-old law that boycotts Israeli products and bars Lebanese citizens from travelling or having contacts with Israelis

Last year, Gadot's superhero film was banned from Lebanese cinemas.

The country's Ministry of Economy issued the ban just before the film was scheduled to premiere.

It was blocked by the government because of the star's nationality and her support for Israel's army, it was reported at the time.

The Israeli actress appeared in reprisals of the Fast and Furious, but none of them were banned in Lebanon.

Crowned Miss Israel, she then went on to serve the mandatory two-year military service in Israel. She then started her acting career and was cast in a series of Hollywood movies and shows, before landing the role of Wonder Woman in Batman Vs Superman.