Spanish Actor Javier Bardem Used His Platform At The Oscars To Condemn War And Call For A Free Palestine
“No to war and free Palestine,” Bardem said before presenting the nominees, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Spanish actor Javier Bardem has called for “No to war and free Palestine” during the Oscars ceremony, while also calling out the US and Israel’s war on Iran.
Bardem made the comments before presenting Best International Feature Film alongside Indian actor Priyanka Chopra at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 16.
“No to war and free Palestine,” Bardem said before presenting the nominees, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Speaking to Variety afterwards, Bardem said actors should use their platform to speak about injustices.
“I think it's important to understand and to bring awareness that you can do both,” he said.
“You can be part of the moviemaking community and also be a citizen that uses this huge speaker to denounce what one thinks is an injustice,” he said.
Bardem also wore a pin that said, “No to war” in Spanish, the same pin he wore in 2003 to protest the war in Iraq.
“They are not defeating any regime. They are radicalizing the regime, bombing innocent people,” he told Variety, referring to the US and Israel’s recent war in Iran.
This year, “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, a film based on the true story of Israeli forces’ killing of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza was nominated for Best International Feature Film.
Palestinian actor Motaza Malhees, who play an emergency operator in the film, was unable to attend the ceremony due to travel restrictions imposed by US president Donald Trump on Palestinian passport holders.
The award ultimately went to Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value”.
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” had previously drawn attention at the Venice Film Festival in September, receiving a standing ovation lasting nearly 24 minutes, the longest in the festival’s history.
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
