Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees will be unable to attend the Oscars on Sunday due to a U.S. Entry ban. He stars in “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” a film nominated for Best International Feature Film and widely considered one of the year’s most crucial works.
Malhees, who plays one of the leading roles in the critically acclaimed film, shared on Instagram that a travel ban originating from the Trump administration is preventing him from entering the United States. “I am not allowed to enter the USA because of my Palestinian citizenship,” he wrote, adding that it “hurts” he won’t be able to participate in the Oscar ceremony.
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” tells the true story of a five-year-traditional Palestinian girl who desperately calls the Palestinian Red Crescent’s emergency line while trapped in a car surrounded by the aftermath of an Israeli attack on January 29, 2024. The film features recordings of the girl’s pleas for help and has garnered significant international recognition, including the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
The film’s nomination and Malhees’s inability to attend highlight the intersection of art and political realities, sparking conversation within the industry and beyond. The French-Tunisian production features Amer Hlehel, Saja Kilani, Kaouther Ben Hania, Motaz Malhees and Clara Khoury.
