"The Voice of Hind Rajab" Secures Oscar Nomination

Oscar-nominated director Kaouther Ben Hania’s Tunisian-French docudrama "The Voice of Hind Rajab" has been officially nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, marking a major milestone for Arab and Palestinian cinema and Palestine advocacy.

The nomination was announced on Thursday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, selected among five titles competing in the category.

"The Voice of Hind Rajab" is based on the shocking true story of Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza on January 29, 2024.

It follows the real-life events surrounding and leading up to Rajab's killing and includes the real audio of a phone call made by the six-year-old to the PRCS after being the only survivor of an Israeli attack on her family's car as they attempted to flee Gaza City.

She could be heard pleading to be rescued and remaining on the call for three hours before losing contact. 

The ambulance crew was unable to get to her due to intense Israeli gunfire and their vehicle being targeted by Israeli forces.

The child and two paramedics who tried to rescue her were killed before the volunteers could arrive, with the car being found riddled with bullet holes. Rajab's body was found on February 12.

Her death and the recordings of her call sparked worldwide outrage and condemnation, demanding accountability and justice for her and her family.

Pro-Palestine protesters in the US renamed Hamilton Hall at Columbia University to “Hind’s Hall” in solidarity with the six-year-old. US rapper Macklemore also released a protest song with the same name in support of the protests and to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The legal arm of the March 30 Movement, the Hind Rajab Foundation, focuses on legal action against the perpetrators and accomplices in Israel’s genocide.

The Oscar nomination makes Ben Hania the first Arab woman to earn three Academy Award nominations. 

She was previously nominated for "The Man Who Sold His Skin" in 2021 and for "Four Daughters" in 2024.

"The Voice of Hind Rajab" has already received significant international recognition, winning the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a prolonged standing ovation, and was later nominated for Best Non-English Language Film at the Golden Globe Awards.

Accepting the Silver Lion award, Ben Hania said: "The voice of Hind is the voice of Gaza itself. A cry for rescue the entire world could hear, yet no one answered. Her voice will continue to echo until accountability is real and justice is served."

Final Oscar voting will take place from February 26 to March 5. The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15 and will air on ABC, hosted by Conan O’Brien.