Gadot slammed for ‘avoiding’ presentation of Oscar for Palestine film as Israel melts down over win

Cry me a river – to the sea. Watch winning documentary now on C4 as BBC shamed and even ignores win completely

Israeli ‘Wonder Woman’ actor Gal Gadot has been slammed for apparently avoiding the risk of having to present the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Feature Length Documentary to the makers of a film on Israel’s destruction in the occupied West Bank.

No Other Land, made by Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, went on to win, marking the first Oscar victory in the awards’ history for Palestinians, and received their prize from actors Samuel L Jackson and Selina Gomez before giving a powerful acceptance speech calling on Israel to end its ethnic cleansing and other injustices inflicted on the people of Palestine:

Gadot, however, presented the award for ‘Best Visual Effects’ alongside Snow White co-star Rachel Zegler, having reportedly asked for the switch just before the ceremony. Neither she nor the Academy have given any official reason for the change.

No Other Land shows the destruction of Masafer Yatta in the West Bank by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between Palestinian Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham.

Gadot served two years in the Israeli military in the early 2000s and has remained an outspoken supporter of Israel, even as it committed a genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza – and now the West Bank – that has taken hundreds of thousands of lives and maimed many more. In October 2023, she confirmed that “I stand with Israel”, telling her followers “You should too”. Later, as the genocide began to unfold, she thanked then-US president Joe Biden for his support for the regime.

Before the ceremony, the Academy faced calls from an array of its members to ‘reconsider’ Gadot’s participation as a presenter, because of her ‘open and repeated’ support Israel’s actions against Palestinians, which they said amounted to ‘advocat[ing] for or defend[ing] human rights violations:

Urgent Call to Reconsider Gal Gadot’s Presence at the Oscars

To the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,

As Members of the Academy, we are writing to express deep concern over the inclusion of Gal Gadot in any official capacity at this year’s Academy Awards events. Given her vocal and unwavering support for actions that have resulted in gross human rights violations, her presence at an event that seeks to celebrate the art of storytelling, diversity, and humanity would be both inappropriate and deeply offensive to many.

Gadot has openly and repeatedly expressed her support for Israel’s military actions against Palestinians, a stance that aligns her with a system that has caused immeasurable pain and destruction. This is especially troubling in light of the International Court of Justice’s determination that there is a plausible case for genocide against the Palestinian population. 

As an internationally recognized figure, Gadot’s platform carries significant weight. Her public stance in support of a regime accused of war crimes and systematic oppression is not just a political statement—it is a direct endorsement of violence against innocent civilians. At a time when the world is witnessing grave injustices, the Academy must ensure that its platform does not enable figures who advocate for or defend human rights violations.

The Academy has long presented itself as an institution that values justice, equality, and ethical responsibility. To allow Gadot to take part in such a prestigious event is to ignore the pain of countless victims who continue to suffer under policies and actions that she has supported. The Oscars should be a space for artists who uplift humanity, not those who justify its destruction. 

We urge you to reconsider the decision to have Gal Gadot present at the Oscars. This is a moment to choose integrity over complicity and to recognize the pain and resilience of all communities fighting for justice and equality. We believe the Academy must take a firm stance against complicity in oppression. Upholding ethical standards and listening to the voices of those who stand for justice is not only a moral imperative but also a necessity for maintaining the integrity of the Academy. 

Our work as filmmakers is shaped by the struggle for justice, visibility, and dignity for all peoples. We will continue to speak out, challenge, and fight for the space that all marginalized communities, especially those subjected to injustice, deserve within the industry.

Despite the lack of official explanation, commenters sarcastically wondered aloud, after the win, why the switch was made.

Gadot has also posed in IDF uniform for a men’s magazine 2007 feature “Women of the Israeli Army”.

No Other Land is available for UK viewers (or those using a VPN) to watch on Channel 4’s streaming service, shaming the BBC – which deleted its Gaza documentary last month under pressure from the Israel lobby and issued a grovelling apology for showing it at all. The BBC and other UK news channels also ignored the Palestinian win completely in their coverage the morning after the ceremony.

Israel, meanwhile, is having something of a meltdown over the win, with culture minister Miki Zohar describing it as “a sad moment for the world of cinema” and describing the film as a “defamation” and “sabotage” that “amplifies] narratives that distort Israel’s image vis-à-vis international audiences”.

Cry me a river – to the sea. Congratulations to the makers of No Other Land.

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