The world is listening, but will political leaders respond?
On 9 April, the European Parliament opened its doors to a powerful act of witness and resistance with the screening of No Other Land, the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary for Best Documentary Feature. Hosted by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) and MEP Hana Jalloul, in collaboration with CIDSE and European Jews for Palestine, the event welcomed co-directors Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham for an evening that combined storytelling, truth-telling, and urgent call to action.
The screening at the European Parliament gathered Members of European Parliament, civil society leaders, EU officials, diplomats, and activists from across Europe.
Take a look of how the screening and discussion went with the video produced by Sterre Volders:
Directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor, and Yuval Abraham, No Other Land traces the shocking experience of forced evictions in Masafer Yatta, a Palestinian community in the West Bank. The film captures not only the displacement of Basel’s family, friends and neighbors but also the unlikely partnership between Basel and Yuval—an Israeli journalist and activist—as they document settler violence and ongoing human rights violations.
A Message of Support and Urgency
The evening opened with words from CIDSE Secretary General Josianne Gauthier, who reflected on CIDSE’s long-standing involvement:
“CIDSE has supported this project through our members—CCFD-Terre Solidaire (France), Misereor (Germany), Entraide et Fraternité and Broederlijk Delen (Belgium). We began working with Basel in 2021, when he asked for modest support—just filming equipment—to document what was happening in Masafer Yatta. That grassroots effort turned into a global testimony to injustice. The incredible courage and dignity of these communities who stand up, both Palestinians and Israeli activists who refuse to have this done in their name should inspire our own courage.
And we are not powerless. The EU can ensure accountability and respect for International law in its relations with Israel. Stop trading with the illegal settlements. Sanction settlers and Israeli ministers. Suspend the EU-Israel Association agreement based on art 2 (which is the human rights clause).
We are responsible for our actions and for one another. We too are accountable.” she added.
Following Josianne’s speech, European Jews for Palestine, a European wide network of progressive Jewish collectives based on justice and equality for all, standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for self-determination, took the floor, represented by Dr. Itamar Shachar who stated:
“If you wish to support courageous people like Basel and Yuval—who show us the possibilities of a different future—you must act. You must work to stop the madness: the genocide, the militarised violence, the expulsions, and the colonisation.”
A Future Still Being Written
As the lights came up and the discussion continued, the room echoed with the urgency of the film’s message: the need to not only bear witness, but to act.
“The situation is so urgent on the ground that there is no time to wait for change. We need pressure from the outside as well”, added Yuval Abraham, one of the co-directors, calling upon European leaders to use their leverage in the EU’s relation with Israel to end the killing and oppressing of the Palestinian people.
The screening closed with an impactful and yet worrying statement from Basel Adra, calling on international community to act on what is happening is the West Bank, in Gaza and for all Palestinians.
“This documentary isn’t just about our past, but it documents our past, present, and if you keep silent and complicit to the occupation and apartheid, it is going to be also the future of the Palestinians. If we will have a future.” said Basel Adra.
The screening at the European Parliament is part of a larger Brussels advocacy tour for Basel, which includes additional showings at venues like the Embassy of Norway for the One World Festival, the world’s largest human rights film festival where No Other Land also received the the award for Best Film.
Watch the trailer here:
OTHER RESOURCES:
- No Other Land, un documentaire cofinancé par Entraide et Fraternité, 8 April 2025.
- Press Conference with S&D MEP Hana Jalloul and co-director Basel Adra, 7 April 2025.
- European Jews for Palestine website article “No Other Land film screening at the European Parliament”, 3 April 2025.
- CIDSE Press release: Historic Oscar win for “No Other Land”, 6 March 2025.
- Een Oscar voor No Other Land, from Broederlijk Delen, 3 March 2025.
CIDSE Contact: Dorien Vanden Boer, Israel & occupied Palestinian territory Policy Officer, vandenboer(at)cidse.org
Cover photo: “No Other Land” European Parliament Documentary Screening. Credits: Alex, Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament.