US foreign policy blocking path to Palestinian freedom â Israeli Oscar winner
No Other Land, about the disputed West Bank, picked up the Oscar for best documentary feature film.
US foreign policy âis helping to blockâ a path to Palestinians having their own freedoms, Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham said as he picked up the Oscar for best documentary feature film.
The filmâs team referenced the conflict in the Middle East as they picked up the gong for Palestinian-Israeli film No Other Land, about the disputed West Bank, at the 97th Academy Awards, hosted by US comedian Conan OâBrien.
Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham said he lives âfree under civilian lawâ, but that Palestinian journalist Basel Adra lives under another legislation in Israel.
Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham accept the award for best documentary feature film for No Other Land during the Oscars (Chris Pizzello/AP)
AP
âWe made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together our voices are strongerâ, he said.
âWe see each other, the atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people, which must end.
âThe Israeli hostages brutally taken in the crime of October 7, which must be freed.
âWhen I look at Basel, I see my brother, but we are unequal.
âWe live in a regime where I am free under civilian law and Basel is under military laws that destroy his life and he cannot control.
âThere is a different path, a political solution, without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people.
âAnd I have to say, as I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path.
âAnd, you know? Why canât you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe if Baselâs people are truly free and safe? There is another way.
âItâs not too late for life, for the living. There is no other way. Thank you.â
On stage, Adra called for the end of what he called the âethnic cleansing of Palestinian peopleâ.
He said: âThank you to the Academy for the award. Itâs such a big honour for the four of us and everybody (who) supported us for this documentary.
âAbout two months ago I became a father, and my hope to my daughter (is) that she will not have to live the same life Iâm living now, always feeling subtle violence, home demolitions and forceful displacement that my community ⦠is living and facing every day under the Israeli occupation.
âNo Other Land reflects the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades and still resist as we call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.â
The war between Israel and Hamas began with Hamasâs October 7 2023 attack that left 1,200 dead in Israel, mostly civilians, and saw some 250 people taken hostage.
Since then, Israelâs military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, who do not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths but say more than half the dead have been women and children.