A documentary filmmaker from Israel won a Best Documentary Oscar for his film “No Other Land,” which tells the story of life under Israeli occupation in the West Bank. In his acceptance speech, Yuval Abraham criticized US foreign policy, saying it is “helping to block” a path towards a peaceful solution in the Middle East.
Abraham’s words came as a surprise at the 97th Academy Awards ceremony, where he was joined by Palestinian colleague Basel Adra and fellow nominees Rachel Szor and Hamdan Ballal. Abraham expressed his support for a political solution that includes national rights for both Israelis and Palestinians, without ethnic supremacy.
Adra also spoke during the ceremony, thanking the Academy and expressing hope for a better future for his daughter, who was born just two months ago. He highlighted the harsh reality of life under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, where settlers’ violence, home demolitions, and forced displacements are common.
The film’s win comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which has paused fighting but also led to an exchange of hostages and prisoners. Abraham’s speech was seen as a rare example of overtly political commentary at the Oscars.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg1vdr4dzko