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Reuters

Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees said a travel ban imposed by Donald Trump’s administration is preventing him from attending Sunday’s Academy Awards, whose nominees include a movie in which he has a starring role.
The Voice ‌of Hind Rajab, a film about a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024, has been Oscar-nominated for best international feature film.
Malhees, who plays the role of a call centre operator attempting to help her, said he cannot attend the Academy Awards show, known as the Oscars, because he has been barred from entering the US.
“I am not allowed to enter the United States because of my Palestinian citizenship,” Malhees said on Instagram, adding, “it hurts” he would not attend the Oscars.

In a December proclamation restricting entry of foreign nationals, Trump said he had “determined to fully restrict and limit the entry of individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.”
The proclamation restricting entry of people from ‌some countries cited security reasons and went into effect on January 1, according to the State Department’s website.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The movie was spurred by an incident in which five of Rajab’s family members and two ambulance workers who went to save her were also killed by Israeli fire. Israel says the incident is under review.

According to Malhees, the film’s other Palestinian cast members have citizenship that allows US travel, but he holds only a Palestinian passport.
Trump has also attempted to deport foreign pro-Palestinian voices from the United States.
On Friday, an immigration judge ordered the release of Leqaa Kordia, who lost over 170 family members in Gaza and has been detained for a year. Two previous orders have not led to her release.


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United States

Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees blocked from Oscars by Trump travel ban

Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees poses on the red carpet at the Bafta award ceremony on February 22. Photo: AFP

Motaz Malhees (second left) is seen in a scene from “The Voice of Hind Rajab”. Photo: CineCanabal/AP

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Reported explosions near a military facility in Tehran on March 1. Photo: TNS

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World

United States & Canada

Middle East

Malhees stars in ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, which has been nominated for best international feature film


Malhees stars in ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, which has been nominated for best international feature film.


Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees blocked from Oscars by Trump travel ban

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Malhees stars in ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, which has been nominated for best international feature film

Malhees stars in ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, which has been nominated for best international feature film