Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace
Member of the Ansar Allah Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti: The Israeli aggression on Yemen will not deter us from continuing to support Gaza, no matter the sacrifices
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli aggression targeted the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street, southwest of the capital, Sanaa, with several raids

Film icons mourn Fatima Hassouna, denounce siege on Gaza at Cannes

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 May 2025 18:59
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Over 370 artists, including Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, honor Gaza journalist Fatima Hassouna and condemn Israeli war crimes at Cannes 2024.

Listen
  • x
  • Film icons mourn Fatima Hassouna, denounce siege on Gaza at Cannes
    Jury president Juliette Binoche, fourth from left, and jury members Hong Sang-soo, from left, Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, Alba Rohrwacher, Dieudo Hamadi, Payal Kapadia, Leila Slimani, and Carlos Reygadas pose for photographers during the opening ceremony red carpet of the 78th International Film Festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

The Cannes Film Festival this week served as a major platform to show solidarity with Gaza as over 370 actors, directors, and industry professionals signed a petition condemning the Israeli occupation’s assault on Gaza and mourning the killing of Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. 

Hassouna, the young photojournalist featured in the Cannes-premiered documentary Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk, was killed alongside 10 members of her family shortly after learning her work would be screened at the prestigious festival. 

French actress Juliette Binoche, chair of the Cannes jury, delivered an emotional tribute to Hassouna during the festival’s opening ceremony. "She should have been here tonight with us," Binoche said, holding back tears. Although initially appearing hesitant to endorse the petition, Binoche later added her name, joining the growing list of signatories. 

'Shameful silence'

The petition was spearheaded by organizers seeking to amplify calls for justice amid “shameful silence” within the film industry regarding the Israeli regime’s siege on Gaza. 

Among the prominent figures lending their names are Rooney Mara, US director Jim Jarmusch, French actor Omar Sy, and Schindler’s List star Ralph Fiennes. Other high-profile signatories include Richard Gere, Mark Ruffalo, Guy Pearce, Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, David Cronenberg, Pedro Almodóvar, Alfonso Cuarón, and Mike Leigh. 

"We are ashamed of our industry’s failure to speak out," the letter reads, pointing to what the signatories describe as a complicit silence in the face of overwhelming civilian suffering in the besieged Palestinian enclave. 

Related News

France summons US ambassador over 'antisemitism' letter

WFP Chief: 'Difficult to deliver aid when Israelis point guns at us'

French actor Camille Cottin and American filmmaker Michael Moore also joined the list of signatories this week, highlighting the momentum building within global artistic circles to confront the devastating toll of the war on Gaza. 

Aggression disproportionately targeting civilians

In her Tuesday speech at Cannes, Binoche also acknowledged the Israeli captives taken by the Palestinian resistance during the October 7, 2023, operation, which marked the beginning of the ongoing war. However, the letter’s signatories emphasized that the occupation’s relentless bombardment and blockade, now in its seventh month, have inflicted disproportionate harm on Palestinian civilians and must be unequivocally condemned. 

Hassouna, 25, is the subject of a new documentary titled Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, directed by Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi. 

Hassouna and ten relatives were killed in an Israeli air raid on her family home in northern Gaza last month, only one day after the documentary was revealed as part of the ACID Cannes selection.

Farsi welcomed the impact of her film but urged Cannes Festival organisers to condemn "Israel's" continuous assault on Gaza.

De Niro urges global action in defense of liberty

During the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, American actor Robert De Niro launched a scathing attack on US President Donald Trump, calling him a threat to global stability.

Receiving the honorary Palme d'Or, De Niro delivered an impassioned speech, warning that Trump's policies are not only a problem for the United States but for the entire world.

In a powerful speech, Robert De Niro declared that art unites people and threatens autocrats by seeking truth and embracing diversity.

Condemning Trump’s actions as “unacceptable", he urged global action, not passive observation, calling on people to organize, protest, and vote in defense of liberty.

  • Palestine
  • Cannes
  • Cannes Film festival
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Israeli occupation forces

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS