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Cannes Honors Fatima Hassouna as Filmmakers Demand Accountability for Gaza Violence

The festival mourned the Palestinian journalist killed in an Israeli airstrike, while global filmmakers invoked the Genocide Convention to call for justice.

Overview

  • Sepideh Farsi’s documentary, 'Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,' premiered at Cannes, honoring the life and work of Fatima Hassouna, who was killed in an April 16 airstrike in Gaza.
  • The Cannes Film Festival issued a rare statement mourning Hassouna and recognizing her as one of the many victims of violence in the region.
  • Ken Loach and Paul Laverty published an open letter describing Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide and urging states to fulfill obligations under the Genocide Convention.
  • Over 370 film industry figures signed a letter condemning Hassouna's death and criticizing the cinema industry's silence on the Gaza conflict.
  • The Israeli army stated the April 16 strike targeted a militant and claimed measures were taken to minimize civilian harm, a claim contested by human rights groups and filmmakers.