‘No Other Land’ Wins Oscar for Best Documentary
Los Angeles: No Other Land, a powerful documentary highlighting Palestinian activists’ fight against the demolition of their communities by the Israeli military, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary on Sunday.
The film, co-directed by Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, and Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist, captures Adra’s struggle as he risks arrest to document the destruction of his hometown in the Masafer Yatta region of the West Bank. Despite his efforts, his pleas go unheard until he forms an alliance with Abraham, who amplifies the story through his journalism.
A Plea for Justice
After accepting the Oscar, Adra, who recently became a father, shared an emotional message about the realities of life under occupation.
“My hope for my daughter is that she will not have to live in fear—fear of settler violence, home demolitions, and forced displacement, as my community faces every day under Israeli occupation,” Adra said.
He urged the world to take action against injustice and ethnic cleansing in the Palestinian territories.
Co-director Abraham used his speech to criticize the Israeli government for its military actions in Gaza, calling attention to the disproportionate destruction and loss of life in the region.
“We made this film as Palestinians and Israelis because, together, our voices are stronger,” Abraham stated.
A Documentary Without Borders
Filmed between 2019 and 2023, No Other Land documents firsthand footage from Adra’s personal archives, showcasing the Israeli military’s demolition of Palestinian homes, schools, and water sources.
The documentary also explores the power imbalance between the two directors. While Adra, as a Palestinian, is unable to leave the West Bank and is treated as a criminal, Abraham, as an Israeli citizen, can move freely.
“When I look at Basel, I see my brother, but we are unequal,” Abraham said on stage. “We live under a system where I am free under civilian law, and Basel is subjected to military laws that destroy his life. There is a different path, a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people.”
He also criticized U.S. foreign policy, stating that it obstructs the path to peace.
Global Recognition and Ongoing Conflict
Despite its critical acclaim and distribution in 24 countries, No Other Land has yet to secure a U.S. distributor.
The film wrapped production days before Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, which resulted in 1,200 deaths, including civilians and Israeli soldiers. In retaliation, Israel’s military operations in Gaza led to the deaths of over 60,000 people between October 8, 2023, and January 19, 2025.
Meanwhile, escalating tensions continue in the West Bank, where the Israeli military has displaced over 40,000 Palestinians from cities like Jenin and Tulkarm in the past month.
