Galilee, Israel – December 25, 2025 – Celebrated Palestinian actor and filmmaker Mohammad Bakri has passed away at the age of 72, ending a remarkable five-decade career that made him a defining figure in Palestinian cinema and cultural resistance. Bakri died on Wednesday at the Galilee Medical Centre in Nahariya due to heart and lung complications, hospital officials confirmed.

A Trailblazer in Palestinian Cinema

Born in 1953 in the Galilee village of Bi’ina, Bakri was a Palestinian citizen of Israel who studied Arabic literature and theatre at Tel Aviv University. Over his career, he appeared in over 40 films and directed several documentaries that focused on the Palestinian experience under occupation and within Israel.

He is best known for his controversial 2002 documentary, Jenin, Jenin, which captured testimonies from Palestinians following a military operation in the Jenin refugee camp that resulted in 52 deaths. The film ignited long-standing debates in Israel and led to decades of legal battles over censorship, ultimately cementing Bakri’s status as a courageous voice in Palestinian storytelling.

Controversy and Legal Struggles

Israeli authorities banned Jenin, Jenin from public screening in 2021. The Supreme Court upheld the ban in 2022, labeling the documentary defamatory. Bakri faced lawsuits from five Israeli soldiers and was fined hundreds of thousands of shekels, with all copies of the film ordered seized and online links removed.

In interviews, Bakri defended his work as a truthful representation of Palestinian experiences, stating, “I don’t see Israel as my enemy … but they consider me their enemy. They see me as a traitor … for making a movie.”

Iconic Roles and Theater Achievements

Bakri’s acting career began with his film debut at age 30 in Costa-Gavras’s Hanna K, portraying a Palestinian refugee seeking to reclaim his family home. He gained international recognition with his role as a Palestinian prisoner in the 1984 film Beyond the Walls, which earned an Academy Award nomination.

He also made significant contributions to theatre. His solo performance in The Pessoptimist, based on Emile Habibi’s novel about Palestinian identity, was staged more than 1,500 times worldwide, solidifying his status as a cultural icon.

Legacy and Family

Bakri is survived by his wife, Leila, and six children, including actors Saleh, Ziad, and Adam, who have continued his cinematic legacy. His funeral was held the same day in his hometown of Bi’ina, where admirers and family commemorated his life and contributions to Palestinian art and culture.

Through his films, theatrical performances, and unwavering commitment to Palestinian storytelling, Mohammad Bakri leaves behind a legacy of artistic resistance and a profound influence on Middle Eastern cinema.