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
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Iran warns of ‘uncontrollable consequences’ after energy site strike
Qatar warns residents of ‘Elavated’ threat
Tehran/Doha: Iran’s President Massoud Pezeshkian has warned that attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure could lead to “uncontrollable consequences” affecting the entire world.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said he “strongly condemns” the strikes that targeted the South Pars gasfield earlier in the day.
“Such aggressive actions will not achieve anything for the American Zionist enemy and their supporters. Rather, they will complicate the situation and could lead to uncontrollable consequences that will affect the entire world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has urged residents to remain indoors due to what it described as an elevated security threat.
Authorities have not provided further details, but the advisory comes amid growing concerns over the safety of energy infrastructure and civilian areas in the region.
