“We came together, Palestinians and Israelis, to create this film because we believe that our voices are more powerful when united,” stated Abraham. “We witness the heartbreaking devastation in Gaza and the suffering of its people, and we demand that it comes to an end. The Israeli hostages who were cruelly taken on October 7th must be released.” Abraham appealed to the global community to pursue a new approach, a political resolution that rejects ethnic dominance and upholds the national rights of both peoples. He criticized the U.S. government, accusing its foreign policy of obstructing this path to peace.
Despite receiving critical acclaim as one of the top documentary features last year, “No Other Land” faced challenges in securing theatrical distribution in the United States due to political sensitivities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Nonetheless, the film was screened at independent cinemas in select cities, and digital screeners were provided for academy voters.
During the Oscars ceremony, Adra and Abraham delivered a joint acceptance speech that stood out as a rare politically charged moment. Host Conan O’Brien largely avoided making jokes about current events or domestic politics. However, screenwriter Peter Straughan wore a blue and yellow pin in solidarity with Ukraine, while actress Daryl Hannah expressed support for Ukraine in its resistance against Russia’s invasion in a brief statement while presenting an award.
These gestures of solidarity followed a tense meeting at the White House where President Trump and Vice President JD Vance engaged in a heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
