JERUSALEM: Actor and filmmaker Mohammed Bakri, a champion of the Palestinian cause, died on Wednesday aged 72, a hospital spokesperson said.
He was known for his documentary “Jenin, Jenin” and his commitment to the Palestinians, which led to frequent confrontations with Israeli authorities.
“Mohammed Bakri died this Wednesday at the Galilee Medical Center” in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya, hospital spokesperson Gal Zaid told AFP.
He died from heart and lung problems, according to his family.
Born in Galilee in 1953 into a Muslim family, Bakri was an Israeli citizen.
He appeared in leading Israeli films but was also directed by the French-Greek director Costa-Gavras and Italian filmmakers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani.
His role as a Palestinian inmate in an Israeli prison in the 1980s film “Beyond the Walls” earned him critical acclaim in Israel and around the world.
But his international renown grew with the release of 2002’s “Jenin, Jenin,” which denounced alleged Israeli war crimes in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank during the Second Intifada.
The Israeli Supreme Court upheld a ban on the film in 2022, deeming it “defamatory.”
The father of six also directed several socially conscious documentaries about the situation of Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Arab-Israeli radio station A-Shams published a tribute on its social media, describing Bakri as a “free voice.”
“From his early days in theater, art was not simply a pastime for Mohammed Bakri, but a tool for raising awareness and engaging in dialogue,” the radio station said.
“The legacy left by Mohammed Bakri will remain, reminding us that art can be an act of resistance.”
Mohammed Bakri, filmmaker who championed Palestinian cause, dies aged 72
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Mohammed Bakri, filmmaker who championed Palestinian cause, dies aged 72
- Bakri was known for his documentary “Jenin, Jenin” which denounced alleged Israeli war crimes in the Jenin refugee camp
- The father of six also directed several socially conscious documentaries about the situation of Palestinian citizens of Israel
Repossi taps May Calamawy for latest campaign
DUBAI: Italian jewelry label Repossi has tapped Egyptian-Palestinian Hollywood star May Calamawy to star in its Ramadan 2026 campaign.
The campaign, which was shot in Sharjah in the UAE, features Calamawy showing off pieces by the Paris-headquartered label that is known for taking inspiration from architecture and modern art.
Shot inside Zaha Hadid Architects’ BEEAH Headquarters in Sharjah, Calamawy can be seen wearing signature pieces from the Blast and Serti Sur Vide collection, as well as other classic collections by the brand.
“Celebrating Repossi Savoir-Faire, Heritage and Architectural Poetry (sic),” the actress captioned the campaign video, which she shared with her 354,000 followers on Instagram.
Calamawy is known for her roles in the US Netflix series “Ramy” and “Moon Knight” (2022), where she plays dual characters Layla El-Faouly and the Scarlet Scarab.
She made headlines in late 2024 when almost all her scenes were cut from Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” with fans taking to social media to complain.
Her casting in the film was first announced in May 2023.
At the time, Deadline reported that Scott had cast Calamawy after a lengthy search, writing: “While many of the leading roles were straight offers, Scott wanted to do a similar search he did for the (Paul) Mescal part for the role that Calamawy ultimately landed.”
In January, the star took to Instagram to promote her latest project, which hits theaters in April.
“The Mummy,” a new feature from award-winning Irish writer and director Lee Cronin, will be released on April 17 and features Calamawy alongside Mexican actress Veronica Falcon, Jack Reynor, and Laia Costa.
The film is produced by Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and New Line Cinema.
“The young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace. Eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare,” the film’s official logline reads.
Calamawy is also known for her activism and regularly takes to social media to support charity initiatives raising money and awareness for Gaza.
In December, she promoted the song “Lullaby,” which the Together for Palestine charity is trying to propel to the Christmas No. 1 spot in the UK chart to raise money for the people of Palestine.
