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
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild

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

Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30

'Israel' responsible for hindering captive body recovery: Exclusive

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

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

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