Basel Adra, the Palestinian co-director of the award-winning documentary No Other Land, recently addressed the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. He was joined by Riyad Mansour, Ambassador of the Observer State of Palestine, and Israeli human rights lawyer Netta Amar Schiff, who participated via video link.
No Other Land is a collaborative project between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers. It highlights the daily struggles of Palestinians living in Masafer Yatta—an area comprising 19 hamlets in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The film presents a powerful narrative of life under military occupation and the persistent challenges faced by the community.
“We wanted the world to know we exist on this land,” said Adra in his opening remarks. “But even after receiving an Oscar, we returned to the same harsh reality.”
James Turpin, Chief of the UN Human Rights Office’s Prevention and Sustaining Peace Section, also spoke at the event. He emphasized that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been monitoring and reporting on human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) for the past 15 years. “The documentary No Other Land powerfully illustrates what the UN has documented in numerous reports,” said Turpin.
The film and event drew attention to longstanding issues, particularly Israel’s designation of nearly 20 percent of the West Bank as “firing zones”—zones closed to civilian access. This policy impacts over 5,000 Palestinians across 38 communities, placing them at risk of forcible transfer.
Turpin also addressed the continued expansion of Israeli settlements, stating that over 737,000 Israeli settlers now live in the West Bank. He noted that new housing projects are regularly announced in East Jerusalem, actions that undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state and violate international law regarding the acquisition of territory by force.
Mr. Adra shared a personal account of violence in Masafer Yatta, recounting how his cousin was shot in the chest by an Israeli settler in October 2023—an attack that took place in front of an Israeli soldier. “Israel routinely fails to prevent or prosecute settler violence,” said Turpin. “There is an ongoing policy of police non-enforcement, leaving Palestinians without a path to justice or accountability.”
The UN human rights official further explained how settler violence is compounded by movement restrictions and the frequent use of unnecessary force by Israeli authorities. These conditions have had a devastating impact on Palestinian livelihoods and have contributed to mass displacement throughout the region.
“Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory must come to an end,” Turpin stated, referencing the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion that reaffirmed the unlawfulness of the occupation.
“As long as this continues, we will keep telling our stories,” Adra said, noting that settler attacks in Masafer Yatta are a near-daily occurrence. His documentary, No Other Land, serves as a testament to resilience in the face of ongoing hardship, and a call for global awareness and action.
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