The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, including three short films centered on the Gaza conflict—two from Israel and one from Tunisia.
The Tunisian film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, has been nominated in the Best International Feature Film category. Directed by Kawsar Ben Haniya, the documentary-drama tells the story of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was reportedly killed by Israeli forces in Gaza last year.
The film also dramatizes the efforts of the Palestinian Red Crescent, incorporating authentic audio of Hind calling for help amid the deaths of her family members.
The film has garnered widespread support from Palestine-supportive filmmakers, with British Jewish director Jonathan Glazer as one of its co-producers.
In Israel, the short film “Butcher’s Stain” was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film. Created by Meir Levinson-Blount of Tel Aviv University’s film school, the story follows Arab butcher Samir, accused of removing posters of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack and brought to Gaza.
The film explores Samir’s struggle to prove his innocence amid abuse, coercion, and a lengthy legal battle, and previously gained recognition at the Student Academy Awards.
The second Israeli short nominated, Children No More: Were and Are Gone, directed by Hila Medalia, is nominated for Best Documentary Short Film.
The film documents a silent protest in Tel Aviv beginning in March 2025, where demonstrators gathered weekly holding photos of children killed in Gaza, a movement that eventually grew into a symbolic nationwide campaign.
Several other Israeli films submitted for Oscar consideration were reportedly rejected, as the Academy found them largely propagandistic attempts to portray Israel in a humanitarian light.
These nominations mark a significant recognition of films addressing the Gaza conflict, bringing international attention to stories of civilian experiences and political struggles in the region.