Palestine, its supporters feature prominently among 2026 Oscar nominees

The Palestinian cause is set to feature prominently at this year’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences “Oscars,” as several nominated artists have previously expressed support for Palestine or criticised the Israeli occupation.

The attention comes amid growing international focus on Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip and the nomination of the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania for the Best International Drama Film category.

The list of supporters includes well-known cinema figures such as Michael B. Jordan, Emma Stone, Stellan Skarsgård, Jessie Buckley, Wagner Moura and Benicio del Toro.

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Some of them have publicly expressed political support for Palestinians, while others have promoted films highlighting the war in Gaza.

In 2021, Jordan reposted a quote by Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid that criticised what it described as selective solidarity and the ignoring of Palestinian rights and ongoing Israeli crimes. Jordan added a one-word comment: “Facts.”

The post read: “You cannot call for racial equality, LGBTQ rights and women’s rights, and condemn corrupt and oppressive regimes and other forms of injustice, while at the same time ignoring the injustice faced by the Palestinian people. That is a stark contradiction.”

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