Oscar-Winning ‘No Other Land’ Urges Global Action, Criticizes US Policy
No Other Land, co-directed by a Palestinian and an Israeli, won an Oscar for depicting Palestinian displacement in Masafer Yatta, receiving praise for spotlighting suppressed narratives but drawing Israeli condemnation
After spending five years in production, the documentary feature No Other Land took home the coveted Oscar award on Sunday for its depiction of the Palestinian West Bank village of Masafer Yatta, where Israeli soldiers are seen tearing down Palestinian homes and evicting residents for the purpose of occupying the land with Israeli military facilities and the expansion of settlements. The film, co-directed by Palestinian activist and journalist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, juxtaposes the vastly different realities of its Palestinian and Israeli co-directors, described by Abraham during the Oscars as a “situation of apartheid… [and] inequality.”
Adra noted during the ceremony that the documentary “reflects the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades,” calling on the international community to intervene and stop what he described as the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. Standing beside him, Abraham emphasized the need for unity between Palestinians and Israelis, noting: “We made this film because together our voices are stronger. I see Basel as my brother, but our lived experiences differ drastically under a regime that treats us unequally.” He also accused US foreign policy of blocking potential solutions, insisting that a true political resolution must guarantee freedom and security for all.
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Following the win, right-wing Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar decried the victory on X, condemning the film for what he called a distortion of Israel’s image. “The Oscar win for the film ‘No Other Land’ is a sad moment for the world of cinema – instead of presenting the complexity of our reality, the filmmakers chose to echo narratives that distort Israel’s image in the world,” Zohar wrote. He went on to argue that while freedom of expression is a cherished value, using what he described as “slander” as a tool for international promotion is not creativity but sabotage of the State of Israel, especially in light of the massacre of October 7 and the ongoing war.
At the same time that Israeli officials decry the film, many Palestinians and their supporters see the documentary’s unflinching exposé on the realities those in the West Bank face, namely demolitions, evictions, and the slow suffocation of communities, validates years of suppressed narratives and harsh realities. For many, the Oscar win validates the voices of Palestinians who have long felt marginalized by mainstream media narratives and international policies.
However, some Palestinian critics approach the film with measured cynicism, arguing that the film—while powerful—risks oversimplifying what they describe as Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, questioning whether a narrative centered on a single Israeli co-director’s perspective—one that portrays him as a hopeful but ultimately out-of-touch figure—can fully encapsulate a more deep-seated issue rooted within broader Israeli society. Some contend that the film may inadvertently gloss over how much of Israeli society accepts or even supports the Jewish state’s policies toward Palestinians.
