The Palestinian And Israeli Directors Who Won Best Documentary At The Oscars Gave A Powerful Speech
"Can’t you see that we’re intertwined – that my people can be truly safe if Basel’s people are truly free and safe? There is another way.”
“No Other Land”, a Palestinian Israeli documentary showing Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the Israel-occupied West Bank, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 3.
The film, shot over four years between 2019 and 2023 was co-directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, a collective of four Israeli and Palestinian activists, in what they say is an act of resistance on the path to justice for Palestinians and Israelis.
The film follows Adra as he documents Israel gradually destroying his hometown in Masafer Yatta, in the southern West Bank and forcibly displacing Palestinians in order to turn the area into a military training zone.
Adra then becomes friends with Abraham, who helps him with his resistance.
The documentary also shows the stark contrast between the rights and freedoms Abraham enjoys as an Israeli citizen and the restrictions Adra faces.
While accepting the award on Sunday, Adra and Abraham delivered a powerful speech together, jointly calling for an end to Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestine.
“About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope to my daughter that she will not have to live the same life I’m living now, always fearing settlers, violence, home demolitions and forcible displacements that my community is living and tasting every day under Israeli occupation,” Adra said.
“When I look at Basel, I see my brother. But we are unequal. We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law and Basel is under military laws that destroy his life,” Abraham said, while calling for an end to Israel’s “atrocious destruction” in Gaza and for the Israeli hostages to be freed.
Abraham added that a political solution without ethnic supremacy is possible, proceeding to call out the US’ role in blocking that path.
“Can’t you see that we’re intertwined – that my people can be truly safe if Basel’s people are truly free and safe? There is another way.”
It’s not too late for life, for the living. There is no other way,” he added.
Israel's military has occupied the Palestinian West Bank since 1967, retaining primary control over many aspects of life, including borders, natural resources, airspace, movement of people and goods, security and the population registry.
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