English director Jonathan Glazer called for an end to Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, at the 96th Academy Awards.
Glazer, who won the best international film award for his film “The Zone of Interest” used his acceptance speech to speak out against Israeli occupation’s hijacking of Jewishness and the Holocaust to fuel the war in Gaza.
“Right now we stand here as men who refute our Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people,” Glazer said.
The film revolves around the story of a Nazi commandant and his wife trying to live their dream life next to the Auschwitz concentration camp, portraying the dehumanisation of detainees in the camp.
“Our film shows where dehumanisation leads, at its worst,” Glazer added.
Glazer revealed that when making the film, the crew had been eager to make it as contemporary as possible.
“All our choices are made to reflect and confront us in the present.” Rather than saying ‘Look what they did then,’ we intended to say ‘Look what we do now,’ he said.
After the speech went viral on social media, Glazer received severe backlash from the supporters of Israel’s ongoing war.
At the same time, the director was also hugely praised for being the only award recipient to speak about the onslaught in Gaza and the plight of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
Palestine’s deputy permanent observer at the UN, Majed Bamya, termed the speech ‘powerful’ and thanked Glazer for the gesture.
This year’s Academy Awards saw several celebrities, including singer Billie Eilish and actors Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef and Mahershala Ali, wear red pins in support of a ceasefire in Gaza.
Others, including the critically acclaimed film Anatomy of a Fall’s Swann Arlaud and Milo Machado Graner, wore the Palestinian flag on their lapel.
Meanwhile, a large crowd of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Dolby Theatre.
“Oscars, Oscars, shame on you! Your hands are bloody too,” they chanted.
Many protesters blocked the road leading to the Oscars red carpet, causing several celebrities to leave their cars and reach the venue by walking.
