President Erdogan meets Oscar-winning director of Palestinian documentary

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting on Monday with Basel Adra, the co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' which depicts the lives of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. The meeting at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office in Istanbul served as a platform for Erdogan to congratulate the filmmaker and discuss the documentary's critical role in raising global awareness.

Praise for Courage and Condolences for Loss

President Erdogan commended the courage required to produce the documentary, noting that documenting crimes in areas like the southern hills of Hebron makes one a direct target. He extended his condolences for the death of Adra's close friend and contributor to the film, Awdah Hathaleen, who was killed by an Israeli settler, and for all other Palestinian victims. Erdogan stated he highly appreciates the bravery shown by the filmmakers.

Critique of Film Industry Bias and Support for Artistic Truth

During the closed-door meeting, Erdogan asserted that the Palestinian tragedy is not adequately addressed in the global film industry, attributing this to the industry's "structural alignment with Israel." He praised the documentary for drawing attention to Israeli expansionism since the Nakba and highlighted the growing support for Palestine at major awards like the Oscars and Cannes. "I consider your documentary... extremely important in awakening global conscience," Erdogan told Adra, urging him to continue his work to maintain public focus on Palestine.

Details of the Award-Winning Documentary

'No Other Land,' a joint Israeli-Palestinian production, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary. It chronicles the resistance of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank against demolition and forced displacement by the Israeli army. The film, which also won top honors at the Berlin International Film Festival, incorporates personal archives and footage to expose violence by soldiers and settlers. President Erdogan concluded by reaffirming that Türkiye will remain steadfast in its support for the Palestinian people.