Renowned actor Javier Bardem delivered the most significant political moment of the 98th Academy Awards while presenting the award for Best International Feature Film. Directing his message to the global audience, Bardem stated firmly, "No to war, and free Palestine". The Oscar winner’s appearance was marked by clear symbols of protest; he wore a "No a la Guerra" (No to war) patch on his lapel, the same one he wore to the Goya Awards in 2003 to protest the Iraq War, alongside a Handala pin, a historic symbol of Palestinian resistance. Bardem’s statement was met with loud applause inside the Dolby Theatre and comes amidst heightened regional tensions and ongoing military operations in the Middle East. Later, in press interviews, Bardem emphasized the importance of using his platform to "denounce injustice" and highlighted the humanitarian crisis currently affecting civilians.