No Other Land is the title of the documentary film that won the Academy Award this year.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to translate the film’s title as “Not in Any Other Land,” because humanity has never witnessed such a horrific experience in any other land—at least not in modern times.
A few nights ago, Soheila, two dear friends, and I attended the first screening of this film in Berkeley. First, we were surprised that the film was being shown in Berkeley, and we were even more surprised to find the theater nearly empty. At first, it seemed like we would be the only ones watching the film. However, gradually, more people arrived to watch this documentary, which tells a story of grief and depicts the brutal face of occupation. Eventually, the small theater filled up. As with other discussion sessions and lectures in this city, most of the attendees were middle-aged or older, their gray and white hair a testament to their long history of activism. Berkeley, after all, was once the beating heart of the anti-Vietnam War movement and a hub for civil rights and progressive activism in America. A few younger people trickled in as well, and the theater reached full capacity.
Although the presence of young people in the theater was not particularly strong, I must note that in the protests I have witnessed in California, the younger generation has carried the greatest burden in supporting the Palestinian resistance and the anti-occupation movement against the policies of Netanyahu’s fascist government over the past 17 months. It is safe to say that in the collective memory of this generation, the crimes, genocide, and ethnic cleansing committed by the fascist Israeli government against the oppressed and resilient Palestinian people will remain imprinted for the rest of their lives. This marks the beginning of a new era in the public discourse, media coverage, and academic research on the issue of Palestine and the occupation of its land.
Israel can no longer use the Holocaust as a shield to silence every protest against its mass killings by labeling critics as anti-Semitic. It can no longer manipulate public opinion in the United States to justify its crimes and secure unconditional American support. For the first time in the U.S., thousands of descendants of Holocaust survivors and other victims of Nazi death camps have taken to the streets, chanting “Not In My Name.” They have condemned Netanyahu’s fascist and criminal government for massacring innocent people in Gaza and have labeled these atrocities as a “Holocaust against the Palestinians” perpetrated by the Zionist regime in the occupied territories.
The screening of this film in the U.S. is a new addition to the historical record and further evidence of the oppression inflicted upon the Palestinian people over the past hundred years. Nowhere else in modern history—“No Other Land”—has such a tragedy unfolded.
This documentary is a joint production by a Palestinian-Israeli team, chronicling the destruction of a village called Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank over many years. The film captures the demolition carried out by Israeli soldiers and settlers who have been placed in these areas. The entire documentary was filmed by a young Palestinian activist, Basel, and an Israeli journalist, Yuval. Their work stands as a living testament to the reality of life under occupation and the remarkable resilience of the Palestinian people in their struggle to preserve their homeland and identity.
Upon receiving the Oscar, Basel expressed his emotions by saying:
“I thank the Academy for this award. It is a great honor for the four of us and for all those who supported us in making this documentary. About two months ago, I became a father, and I hope my daughter will not have to live the same life that I do now—a life of constant violence, home demolitions, and forced displacement, which my homeland, Masafer Yatta, endures every single day. No Other Land reflects the harsh reality that we have endured for decades. We continue to resist and call on the world to take serious action to end injustice and stop the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”
His Israeli colleague, Yuval Abraham, spoke about his motivation for making this historical documentary:
“We made this film together—Palestinians and Israelis—because our voices are stronger together. We see each other. The horrific destruction of Gaza and its people must end. The Israeli hostages were brutally taken on October 7, and they must be freed. When I look at Basel, I see my brother. But we are not equals. We live under a system where I, as an Israeli, enjoy full civil rights and freedom, while Basel lives under military rule that destroys lives and leaves him powerless. I am here to say that there is another way—a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with equal national rights for both of our peoples. I am here to say that U.S. foreign policy is helping to block this path. Why? Can’t you see that our fates are intertwined? If Basel’s people are truly free and safe, then my people can also be truly safe. I am here to say that another way is possible. For life, it is not too late.”
Watching this film is not only an inspiration but also a testament to the perseverance of a people who refuse to surrender, abandon their land, or give up hope—even when their homes, schools, playgrounds, and businesses are repeatedly demolished by Israeli occupiers. This film exposes the ongoing and relentless oppression of an occupying force that does not stop at just one destruction but returns time and again with bulldozers to raze villages, crush schools and health centers, and even destroy makeshift shelters. It depicts how Israeli forces uproot trees, block access to food and water, and even fill the only drinking water wells with cement—continuing their horrific policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
I strongly recommend this film to human rights advocates, especially those who genuinely defend the rights of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as to opponents of Israel’s racist policies and mass killings. This film not only inspires continued resistance against occupation, discrimination, and oppression worldwide, but also serves as a reminder of why surrender is not an option, why one should not abandon their home, and why the Palestinian people have become a symbol of resilience, courage, and human dignity.
Perhaps it would also be worthwhile for those who still support these crimes to watch this film—to see what kind of atrocities and monsters they are defending. Maybe, if they have any remaining conscience, if any trace of humanity is left in them, they will finally abandon their support for Israeli fascism and Zionist criminals.
Reza Fani Yazdi
March 16, 2025