India Rejects Screening of Gaza Film, Fearing It Would Ruin Friendship with Israel
India Rejects Screening of Gaza Film, Fearing It Would Ruin Friendship with Israel
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The docudrama film The Voice of Hind Rajab, which has been nominated for an Oscar, has been blocked from screening in India. This decision has drawn attention as it is seen not merely as film censorship but also as reflecting a new direction in India’s political relations with Israel.
Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film previously received an extraordinary reception at the Venice Film Festival with a 23-minute standing ovation and won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe and shortlisted for the Oscar in the Best International Feature category.
However, India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has decided to reject the screening of the film.
Manoj Nandwana, the film’s distributor in India from Jai Viratra Entertainment, revealed the reason he received from local authorities. He stated that the film was feared to “damage” India’s relations with Israel.
Nandwana rejected this reasoning. He believes that relations between the two countries are strong enough and will not be affected by a single film, especially since the work has already been shown in various countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and France, which also have diplomatic relations with Israel.
“I told them: India-Israel relations are very strong, so it would be foolish to think this film would damage them,” he said, quoted from Euro News on Thursday (26/3/2026).
Tragic Story in Gaza
The Voice of Hind Rajab tells the true story of the death of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed on 29 January 2024 in Gaza.
In the film, Hind is the sole survivor from an Israeli military attack. She made an emergency call to Palestinian medical services while trapped in a car with the bodies of her family members.
Rescue efforts failed. Investigations cited from media reports and human rights organisations indicate that the vehicle was hit by hundreds of bullets, including during the medical team’s attempt to help the victims.
The film combines original audio recordings with dramatic scenes, creating a powerful narrative about the humanitarian impact of the conflict in Gaza.
Strong Reactions and Political Issues
This ban has triggered widespread criticism in India. Several parties have called the move excessive censorship and linked it to the political stance of the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India has historically been known to support Palestine. However, in recent years, the Modi government has shown stronger closeness with Israel, including through high-level official visits.
This case is not the first. The CBFC has previously delayed the release of other films deemed politically sensitive, such as Santosh by Sandhya Suri.
Although blocked in India, The Voice of Hind Rajab has been released in several countries. The film also has support from renowned executive producers such as Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara.
However, political controversy has led some distributors in other countries to choose not to screen it.