"Mahmoud Abbas praises the efforts of the directors of "The Voice of Hind Rajab" and "Palestine 36

Mahmoud Abbas commended Jasser’s role in highlighting the Palestini cause through her films

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised the efforts of Tunisian director Kawthar Ben Hania and Palestinian director Anne-Marie Jasser during a phone call with them, according to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) on Tuesday.

Abbas commended Kawthar Ben Hania for giving the voice of the Palestinian child martyr Hind Rajab to the world through her film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, received support from international film stars, and is set to participate in numerous festivals and screenings worldwide.

He also praised Jasser for highlighting the Palestinian cause through her films, most recently “Palestine 36,” which depicts the Palestinian revolution during the British Mandate. Abbas emphasized that cinema, theater, and culture play a pivotal role in defending the causes of just peoples, spreading the Palestinian narrative, and rallying support for the Palestinian people’s rights to freedom and independence.

Palestinian director Anne-Marie Jasser had previously revealed that Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), described the audience reaction to “Palestine 36” as unprecedented in the festival’s history, noting that the world premiere received a standing ovation lasting no less than 15 minutes—the longest in the festival’s records.

The world premiere took place last Friday at the Toronto festival, attended by Arab and international stars. The film’s crew organized a protest on the red carpet calling for an end to what they described as “the genocide in Gaza.” During the event, actor Karim Daoud Annaya carried a plastic bag filled with fake blood containing a camera and a Palestinian keffiyeh, while other crew members waved Palestinian flags and held signs reading: “Stop the genocide.” Producer Osama Bouardi wore the Palestinian flag on his jacket, and actor Zaid Ghazal raised his hands with the same slogan written on them, sending a clear message to the global audience.