Hollywood’s biggest night took a somber and political turn when the winners in the best documentary feature category issued a powerful call for peace, change and agreement among Israelis and Palestinians during their Oscars acceptance speech.
They also said the U.S. government is currently a barrier to peace and progress for Palestinians.
The Academy Award for “No Other Land” went to Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham on Sunday for their documentary about the destruction of the Masafer Yatta community in the Occupied West Bank by Israeli troops.
Adra is a Palestinian activist and Abraham is an Israeli journalist. The two spoke on behalf of the filmmaking team.
TRANSCRIPT:
[Please note that this is not an official transcript and may include slight errors]
ADRA
Thank you to the Academy for the award, it’s such a big honor for the four of us and everybody who supported us for this documentary.
About two months ago, I became a father, and I hope to my daughter that she will not have to live the same life I am living now. Always feeling … always feeling surveillance, home demolition and forced displacement that my community … is living and facing every day under occupation.
“No 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.
ABRAHAM
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 7, which must be freed.
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. Basel is under military laws that destroy his life and he cannot control.
There is a different path, a political solution, without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people.
And I have to say, as I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path. And, you know, I … why?
Can’t you see that we are 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.
Thank you.
