When I look at Basel, I see my brother, but we are unequal: Israeli co-director of ‘No Other Land’
Powerful victory speech of No Other Land's makers take centre stage at Oscars
Los Angeles: As directors Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor took the stage to accept the Academy Award for Best Documentary for No Other Land, they used the global platform to deliver a powerful plea for justice and peace in Gaza.
The acceptance speech by Abraham, an Israeli journalist, and Adra, a Palestinian journalist and activist, became a defining moment of the ceremony, as they called for an end to the ongoing war and the displacement of Palestinians.
Adra, who has been documenting the realities of occupation and displacement, spoke about the suffering of the Palestinian people and urged the world to take action. “We call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people,” he declared, his voice filled with emotion. He also spoke about his personal experiences, revealing that he had recently become a father. “About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope for my daughter is that she will not have to live the same life I’m living now. ‘No Other Land’ reflects the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades and still resist,” he said.
Abraham, who co-directed the documentary alongside Adra, emphasized the collaborative nature of the project between Palestinians and Israelis, underscoring the power of unity in storytelling. “We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together, our voices are stronger,” he said. Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the October 7 attack by Hamas, he added, “We see each other—the destruction of Gaza and its people, which must end, the Israeli hostages, brutally taken in the crime of October 7, who must be freed.”
Highlighting the systemic inequality between Israelis and Palestinians, Abraham spoke about the harsh realities faced by his co-director. “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, and Basel is under military laws that destroy his life and that he cannot control,” he pointed out, calling for a political resolution that recognizes the rights of both people. “There is a different path, a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people,” he stated, making a strong appeal for peace based on equality rather than dominance.
Criticizing U.S. foreign policy and its approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict, Abraham questioned global leaders for failing to recognize the intertwined fate of both communities. “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?” he asked.
The film ‘No Other Land’ documents the displacement of a Palestinian family from their home in the West Bank, showcasing the human cost of occupation. Made by a collective of four Palestinian and Israeli activists, the documentary serves as both a piece of storytelling and an act of resistance against ongoing injustices.
The film, a co-production between Palestine and Norway, premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2024, where it won the Panorama Audience Award for Best Documentary Film and the Berlinale Documentary Film Award.
#Oscars2025 🇵🇸 @basel_adra: “We call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.” #NoOtherLand pic.twitter.com/2yVfryoAWC
— State of Palestine (@Palestine_UN) March 3, 2025
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Record-holder swimmer drowns while practicing in pool in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: Record-holder swimmer K Chandrashekhar Rai Surikumeru (52), who was known for performing yoga and somersaults underwater, died of drowning in the Mangaluru City Corporation swimming pool on Sunday.
Rai, who was a native of Surikumeru near Kalladka in Bantwal taluk, lived in Kudroli, Mangaluru. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.
He had been employed as a lifeguard at the swimming pool in Udupi under contract-basis and was working as manager of the MCC swimming pool for three years. He also worked as a lifeguard and swimming trainer.
On Sunday morning, Rai is said to have handed the security guard of the pool his mobile phone, saying he would practice for some time, but shortly after diving into the pool, he died of suffocation.
The post-mortem examination of his body was conducted at the District Wenlock Hospital and the funeral rites were held at his native place, Rai’s brother Radhakrishna Rai has said.
Rai, known for his skills in swimming, had entered the Worldwide Book of Records in 2023 by performing 28 front flip somersaults in a single stretch.
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