Demonstration in Support of Palestine at Venice Film Festival's Perimeters
The Venice Film Festival, one of the world's most prestigious cinematic events, has become a platform for political discourse, with the Middle East conflict taking centre stage this year. Thousands of protesters, estimated at around 3,000, participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the festival grounds, calling for an end to the ongoing conflict.
The demonstration was organised by the group "Venice 4 Palestine," which includes over 1,500 artists who signed a pro-Palestinian petition before the festival. The initiative, part of the pro-Palestinian demonstration, criticised the high number of civilian casualties in the Gaza war and accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians.
One of the key issues raised during the demonstration was the alleged genocide, a term that according to the UN Convention refers to the intent to destroy a particular group. South Africa has filed a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court regarding this matter. However, both Israel and the German government have rejected the genocide accusation. Israel claims it is acting in self-defence following the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.
Amidst the political turmoil, the Venice Film Festival continued with its scheduled events. One of the films in competition is "The Voice of Hind Rajab," a film directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania. The film tells the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in the Gaza Strip, and its premiere is set for September 3.
Giorgos Lanthimos, last year's Golden Lion winner, showed his support for the Palestinian cause by wearing a Palestinian flag pin during his appearances at the Venice Film Festival. The film "The Voice of Hind Rajab" is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict and adds a sombre note to the glamour and excitement of the Venice Film Festival.
