Overview
- He died on December 24 at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya from heart and lung complications, and was buried the same day in his hometown of Bi'ina.
- A Palestinian citizen of Israel, he worked across Arabic and Hebrew stages and screens, earning acclaim for roles including 1984’s Beyond the Walls.
- He directed the 2002 documentary Jenin, Jenin following Israel’s operation in Jenin; in 2022 Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a ban on the film and ordered him to pay damages for defamation.
- His recent screen role in All That’s Left of You (2025), co-starring his sons, comes as the film is shortlisted for the Academy Award for best international feature.
- Tributes and backlash followed his death, including an IDF radio host’s on‑air praise that the station later qualified after criticism from Israeli politicians.