“Voice of Hind Rajab” director rejects Berlin award in protest over Gaza

• Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania declined to accept the "Most Valuable Film" award for her documentary The Voice of Hind Rajab, protesting the ceremony's decision to honor an "Israeli" general alongside her.
• During her speech, Ben Hania left the trophy behind, stating that such accolades are meaningless while "genocide" continues in Gaza and calling for justice and accountability for the death of 6-year-old Hind Rajab.

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania declined to accept the "Most Valuable Film" award for her documentary The Voice of Hind Rajab at the Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin.

The event, held alongside the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), drew controversy when Ben Hania used her platform to protest the honoring of an ‘Israeli’ general at the same ceremony.

She expressed a sense of responsibility over gratitude, leaving the trophy behind as a symbolic reminder of ongoing injustices in Gaza.

The Voice of Hind Rajab chronicles the harrowing efforts by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to rescue 6-year-old Hind Rajab, who was trapped in a car amid the ‘Israeli’ military assault on Gaza City in January 2024.

The young girl, along with her family, was killed by ‘Israeli’ forces, an incident that gained international attention through audio recordings of her pleas for help. Ben Hania's film, which premiered in 2025, has received nominations for the Oscars and BAFTAs.

During the gala, attended by notable figures including former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey, Ben Hania took the stage but refused to take the award home.

She stated that such honors hold no meaning while "genocide" continues in Gaza, emphasizing that Hind's death was not an isolated event but part of a broader systemic issue.

The director criticized those providing political cover for civilian killings by framing them as self-defense.

Ben Hania's decision stemmed directly from the event's recognition of an ‘Israeli’ general, whom she accused of representing the military responsible for atrocities in Gaza.

In her speech, she declared, "I refuse to let their deaths become a backdrop for a polite speech about peace," adding she would accept the award "with joy" only when justice and accountability are achieved.

This act of refusal occurs amid heightened tensions at the 2026 Berlinale, where over 80 filmmakers have denounced censorship on Gaza.

The festival has faced backlash for its handling of pro-Palestinian voices, including restrictions on related protests and statements.