"No Other Land", Oscar-Winning Film, and the Message of Palestine-Israel Peace

Amid the closure of humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip, the film No Other Land which was not distributed in the United States actually won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. This collaborative film by directors from Palestine and Israel tells the public that the young generation of both nations are fed up with the various conflicts.

Present to receive the award in the city of Los Angeles, California, United States, on Sunday (2/3/2025) local time or Monday (3/3/2025) Indonesian time were the two directors, namely Basel Adra from Palestine and Yuval Abraham. Along with them were producers Rachel Szor and Hamdan Ballal.

No Other Land captures the life of the Palestinian community in the West Bank, specifically in an area called Masafer Yatta. There, there is an illegal occupation by Israeli citizens.

As a result, Palestinians often come into conflict with Israeli security forces, causing Masafer Yatta to be damaged. The film takes place in the period 2019-2023, shortly before Hamas launched the Operation Storm al-Aqsa attack on southern Israel, October 7, 2023.

“Two months ago, I became a father. I hope my daughter will not experience segregation like I did. All the fear that life is always being watched, suppressed, and evicted,” said Adra.

In fact, in February 2025, the Israeli military continued to evict Masafer Yatta. Adra said that 74 residents were left homeless. The Israeli military used heavy equipment to level their homes to the ground.

Abraham said in his speech that he and Adra were friends and grew up in the same area. However, they have different rights.

“Every time I look at Basel, I look at my brother, but we are not equal. My freedom is guaranteed by law, while Basel’s life is controlled by martial law,” Abraham said.

He said, there is a solution in the problems they recorded in the film. The solution is peace and political will without any supremacy of a particular ethnic group. In addition, also the development of a society of two sovereign countries that respect each other.

“I have to be honest, this country’s foreign policy is in trouble. Don’t you see that everything is interconnected? If Basel’s relatives are not safe, my relatives are not safe. There are other ways to achieve a good solution,” Abraham said.

In an interview with Deadline, Abraham revealed that his and Adra's collaborative film was not distributed in the US. According to him, this was purely for political reasons. He and Adra then decided to independently screen the film in 100 independent theaters in the US.

“We made this film because the voice of Palestinians and Israelis is louder and stronger,” Abraham said.

We made this film because the voice of Palestinians and Israelis is louder and stronger. (Yuval Abraham)

Meanwhile, in an interview with NPR, Adra said that cameras are powerful fact-finding tools when used correctly. He criticized those who remain unmoved by the destruction in Gaza, despite reports showing evidence of attacks beyond Israel's self-defense.

“Despite the facts, there are still many global powers that support the Israeli military,” Adra said.

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza is still fragile. The first phase of the ceasefire between them ended on Sunday (2/3/2025). Before the first phase ends, Hamas and Israel should have started negotiations to discuss the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire.

Israel cut off access to social aid to Gaza on the pretext that Hamas must first promise to extend the ceasefire. If Hamas does not comply, Israel threatens serious consequences. Egypt and Qatar, as mediators of the ceasefire, criticized Israel for being cruel.

In the second phase of the ceasefire, if agreed upon in further negotiations, Hamas should return the 62 Israeli hostages they are still holding. Thirty-five are thought to have died. In return, Israel must withdraw all its troops from Gaza. In the second phase, a permanent ceasefire should also be agreed upon.

For young Palestinians and Israelis, pursuing a just and sustainable peace is a daunting challenge. The US Institute of Peace (USIP) conducted a January 2023 poll of young Palestinians and Israelis aged 15-34.

The poll found that only 20 percent of Israeli youth aged 18-34 believe in a two-state solution, which would allow a Palestinian state and an Israeli state to exist side by side. The rest of the respondents said a non-democratic status that would leave Palestinians with limited rights would be a better option.

The same thing is also reflected among Palestinian youth. Their vision of a two-state solution is fading. According to Palestinian respondents, the struggle must be continued. Both Palestinians and Israelis reject the argument of ancestral and religious ties to the land where they live.

Still, USIP found a glimmer of hope. Respondents from both sides said they respect each other’s religions and beliefs. Israelis respect Islam and Palestinians respect Judaism.

This gives optimism. In addition, there are 30 percent of Israeli youth and 29 percent of Palestinian youth who believe in and carry out various peace efforts.

The coverage of the magazine Positive News on October 19, 2023, or a week after the Aqsa Storm and the start of the Israeli invasion of Gaza, reported that there are at least 12 interfaith and interethnic organizations around the world that are fighting for peace in Palestine and Israel. Seven of the organizations covered operate in Palestine, Israel, and Jordan. The rest are in the US and UK.

All of these organizations are grassroots movements. There are women's cooperation movements, parent communication movements, and communities of former soldiers or fighters from Palestine and Israel.

On February 2-5, 2025, Scholas Occurentes under the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican hosted a meeting of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian youth. They met with Pope Francis and expressed their commitment to peace.

“For years, I was raised not to talk to them (Muslims and Christians). Eventually, we dehumanized each other. Now, after talking, I realize the importance of listening to each other,” Abigail Szor from Israel told Vatican News.

(AP)