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Palestinian Actor-Director Mohammad Bakri Dies at 72 in Northern Israel

His Jenin, Jenin documentary made him a flashpoint in Israeli courts, shaping a legacy of dissent.

Overview

  • Bakri died on December 24 at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya from heart and lung problems, according to his family and hospital officials.
  • He was buried the same day in his birthplace, Bi’ina in the Galilee, with relatives confirming the funeral.
  • Over five decades he worked in Hebrew and Arabic across Israeli and international projects, including Beyond the Walls, Costa-Gavras’s Hanna K., and a recurring role in TV’s Homeland.
  • His 2002 film Jenin, Jenin led to years of litigation, with Israel’s Supreme Court in 2022 upholding screening restrictions and ordering him to pay damages for defamation.
  • Recent work included the 2025 feature All That’s Left of You, shortlisted for the Academy’s international feature award, as an IDF radio host’s on-air tribute prompted a station clarification and criticism from politicians.