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The nation's culture minister has threatened to axe financial backing for the national cinema honors after A Palestinian Tale, a narrative about a young Arab youth, won its highest honor.

The film, which follows a child from the disputed West Bank who dreams to travel to an Israeli city to see the sea for the first time, won best film at the Ophir Awards.

“No deeper slap in the face of the people of Israel than the shameful and detached yearly film ceremony ceremony.”

As winner of the top honor award at the national ceremony, The Sea now becomes the country's submission to the global cinema competition at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Uncertainty Over Financial Warning

It is not yet clear whether the minister has the authority to defund the awards, according to domestic news outlets.

Cast members of The Sea won additional key awards at the event, including 13-year-old the young actor who won the best actor honor—the youngest ever winner.

Film Synopsis

Throughout the story, the actor plays a young Khaled who is denied entry to the country at an IDF security post during a class trip to the coastal city.

The character then sneaks into Israel and attempts to arrive at the beach while his parent, an unauthorized worker in the country, attempts to locate him.

“This film is about every child's right to exist peacefully, a fundamental entitlement we refuse to abandon.”

Official Response

But, in his remarks, the Culture Minister described the national film honors as “embarrassing and detached”.

He added: “During my tenure, the public will not pay from their pockets for a event that shows disrespect of our heroic soldiers.”

Industry Response

Answering the minister's comments, Academy Chair said: “Amid the ongoing war in the region takes a terrible toll in casualties and damage, the ability to see the 'different perspective'... offers small hope.”

Amir added: “In the face of the Israeli government's attacks on local film, and the demands from sectors of the global cinema world to avoid us, the selection of The Sea is a strong and resounding response.”

Background Context

This follows thousands of US film industry professionals endorsed a vow promising not to work with the country's cinematic bodies that are “involved in atrocities”.

Israel initiated its military campaign in Gaza in reaction to the militant attack on the country's south on last October, in which approximately 1,200 people were died and 251 more were captured.

No fewer than 65,000 individuals have been killed in military operations since then, almost half of them women and children, according to the local medical authorities.

On Tuesday, a UN commission of inquiry said that Israel had carried out genocide against Palestinians in the region.

Israel's foreign ministry denied the report and denounced it “distorted and false”.