Los Angeles: The Palestinian film "No Other Land" won the 97th Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film documents the suffering of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, due to the ongoing attacks of the Israeli occupation forces.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the film was directed by Palestinian activist Basil Adra, 29, and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, 30. It highlights Adra's resistance against the forced displacement of Palestinian families in Masafer Yatta and the demolitions of homes carried out by the occupation in the area.
"No Other Land" also sheds light on the story of a Palestinian family displaced by the Israeli occupation government from their home in Masafer, a move made in favor of colonial expansion in the region. After receiving the award at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Adra expressed that the film reflects the harsh reality faced by Palestinians for decades and called for global action to stop the injustice and ethnic cleansing.
Adra shared a personal note, stating that two months ago he became a father and hopes his daughter will not endure the same life of fear, violence, and displacement that his community, Masafer Yatta, faces under occupation. Abraham emphasized the collaborative effort between Palestinians and Israelis in making the film, stressing that their voices are stronger together and highlighting the ongoing destruction in Gaza.
Abraham noted the inequality between himself and Adra under the current regime, where he lives freely under civil law, while Adra is subject to a military law that impacts his life. He advocated for a political solution that ensures national rights for both peoples without ethnic supremacy and criticized the foreign policy of the United States for obstructing such a solution.
Concluding his speech, Abraham urged recognition of the interconnectedness of their lives and stated that true safety for his people depends on the freedom and safety of Adra's people, emphasizing that there is still an alternative path forward.
