The documentary No Other Land, a joint project by Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary, but its creators used the platform to criticise Israel, drawing backlash, reports Israel National News.
Basel Adra, a Palestinian co-director, used his acceptance speech to accuse Israel of ethnic cleansing, stating:
“About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope to my daughter is that she will not have to live the same life I’m living now, always fearing settlers’ violence, home demolitions, and forced displacements.”
He called on the international community to “take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.”
Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, another co-director, took a more balanced tone, acknowledging the suffering on both sides. He stated:
“We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together our voices are stronger. We see each other, the atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people, which must end, the Israeli hostages brutally taken in the crime of October 7th, which must be freed.”
The documentary focuses on the Masafer Yatta region in the southern Hebron Hills, where Palestinian villagers claim to have lived for generations. The film depicts Israeli soldiers and settlers carrying out massacres, shootings, and threats against the Palestinian population.
However, critics argue that the documentary misrepresents the historical and legal facts. The area in question, Firing Zone 918, has been a military training ground for decades and was legally designated for IDF use. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the settlement of Palestinians in the area was illegal, supporting the army’s right to evict them.
The film has sparked outrage in Israel, with many accusing it of promoting a false narrative that demonises the Israeli military and settlers while ignoring the legal complexities of the region. The documentary’s claim that Israel exploited the war for massacres and land grabs has been particularly controversial.
Despite its Oscar win, No Other Land has deepened divisions in the debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with supporters praising its message and critics condemning its distortions.
Photo credit: Rich Polk
More News
