Mohammad Bakri, a Palestinian actor and director renowned for exploring Palestinian identity and culture in Arabic and Hebrew works, has died at the age of 72, his family announced, reports AP.
Bakri was best known for directing the 2003 documentary Jenin, Jenin, which depicted the destruction and human suffering in the northern West Bank city during an Israeli military operation in the second Palestinian intifada. The film was banned in Israel.
In 2025, he appeared in All That’s Left of You, chronicling a Palestinian family over 76 years, alongside his sons Adam and Saleh Bakri, both actors. The film has been shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Throughout his career, Bakri created works spanning the Palestinian experience and performed in Hebrew, including at Israel’s national theater in Tel Aviv. He also appeared in major Israeli films in the 1980s and 1990s and studied at Tel Aviv University.
Born in northern Israel and holding Israeli citizenship, Bakri was active in both film and theater. His acclaimed one-man show The Pessoptimist (1986), based on the writings of Emile Habiby, explored the emotions and dual identity of Palestinians living under Israeli rule.
Bakri also played roles in mainstream Israeli cinema that humanized Palestinian characters. Raya Morag, a Hebrew University professor, said, “He broke stereotypes about how Israelis looked at Palestinians, allowing a Palestinian to be regarded as a hero in Israeli society.”
Morag added, “He was very brave, standing by his ideals, choosing not to conform, and paying the price in both societies.”
Bakri faced criticism within Palestinian circles for collaborating with Israelis. Following Jenin, Jenin, he endured nearly two decades of legal battles, and in 2022, Israel's Supreme Court upheld a ban on the film, ordering Bakri to pay damages for defamation.
Despite controversies, Bakri remained steadfast. Morag noted, “He was loyal to himself despite all pressures from inside and outside. He was a firm voice that did not change over the years.”
Bakri’s family said he died Wednesday after suffering from heart and lung problems. His cousin Rafic told Al-Jarmaq, “I am certain that Abu Saleh will remain in the memory of Palestinian people everywhere and all people of the free world,” highlighting his legacy as a tenacious advocate for Palestinians.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
