Gaza Conflict Takes Center Stage at Venice Awards, with Winning Personalities Urging Halting of Israeli Military Operations
Cardinal Pizzaballa and Filmmakers Call for Peace in Gaza at Venice Film Festival
The 82nd Venice Film Festival, held six weeks before the second anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks on Southern Israel, saw multiple winners calling for an end to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Among them was Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, who dedicated her award to the Palestinian Red Crescent and all those who have risked their lives to save lives in Gaza.
Ben Hania won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize for her film The Voice of Hind Rajab, which tells the story of the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza City in early 2024. She used the platform to call on leaders of the world to save the lives of countless mothers, fathers, and children in Gaza, stating their survival is a matter of justice and humanity. Ben Hania also raised the plight of Hind Rajab's mother Wissam Hamada and brother Eiyad, who remain in Gaza.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, addressed the ceremony via live-video link from Jerusalem. He called for an end to the war and for a different dialogue and outcomes, expressing his concern over the deep hate and radicalization within both the Israeli and Palestinian populations. He visited Gaza in July following an Israeli strike on the compound of the parish of the Holy Family.
Anuparna Roy, winner of the Best Director in the Orizzonti sidebar for Songs Of Forgotten Trees, also stood up for Palestine during the ceremony. She expressed the belief that every child deserves peace, freedom, and liberation, and that it is a responsibility to stand by Palestine.
Aid agencies have warned of a looming "man-made" famine in Gaza, with at least 132,000 children under five-years-old expected to suffer from acute malnutrition. At least 61,000 people living in the Gaza Strip have died in Israel's subsequent military campaign aimed at wiping out Hamas and recovering hostages. The Hamas terror attacks on October 7, 2023, resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages.
During the ceremony, Touzani, a mother, expressed profound joy and pain. She thanked the organisers for allowing her to attend, stating that it was the first time she had been able to look at her child during the ceremony. Touzani also expressed concern for the people of Gaza and Palestine, stating that they need our help and support.
The United States has been the primary government providing military aid to Israel during its military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in recent years. As the world watches, it is hoped that the calls for peace from these award-winning filmmakers and others will be heard and acted upon, bringing an end to the suffering in Gaza and paving the way for a more peaceful future.
