Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees has said he will be unable to attend this year’s Academy Awards after a US travel ban prevented him from entering the country. Malhees stars in the Oscar nominated film ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, which has been recognised in the Best International Feature Film category.
In a message shared on Instagram, the actor said he was barred from travelling to the US because he holds a Palestinian passport. “I am not allowed to enter the US because of my Palestinian citizenship,” he wrote, adding that it was painful to miss the ceremony.
The film centres on the story of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in 2024. Malhees portrays a call centre operator attempting to help her during the crisis.
The travel restriction stems from a proclamation issued by Donald Trump that limits the entry of individuals travelling on documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. The measure, introduced for security reasons, came into effect on January 1, according to the US State Department.
Malhees said other Palestinian cast members from the film are able to travel because they hold different citizenship. He noted that he only carries a Palestinian passport, which prevents him from attending the ceremony.
The film was inspired by the real life incident in which several members of Rajab’s family and two ambulance workers who attempted to rescue her were also killed by the IDF.
Israeli authorities have said the case remains under review.
