As a gamer with a heart for global issues and a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling through media, I find the recent developments surrounding Netflix’s handling of Palestinian stories deeply troubling. Having grown up in a world where games have been instrumental in bridging cultural gaps and fostering empathy, I am disheartened to see a platform like Netflix, which has the potential to do the same, seemingly step back from its commitment.
Netflix has addressed criticism following the removal of 19 movies focusing on or produced by Palestinians from their streaming service, which occurred around mid-October.
The streamer announced that the collection titled “Palestinian Stories“, consisting of 32 movies, was unveiled in October 2021, marking the beginning of a three-year licensing agreement. However, they stated that these licenses have since expired. Nevertheless, they remain committed to financing an extensive range of high-quality films and television programs to cater to their members’ preferences, while also showcasing diverse global perspectives, as expressed on Friday.
Due to the choice not to extend the contract for Palestinian storytelling as part of a content agreement, a group of human rights organizations headed by Freedom Forward penned an open letter to Netflix’s top executives to clarify why they took down 19 films focusing on or created by Palestinians.
In our letter to Reed Hastings, founder and executive chairman, as well as co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos, we strongly request that you clarify your reasoning behind removing all films related to or by Palestinians from Netflix last week, and immediately restore them. We are troubled by the potential impact of this decision, which may further silence Palestinian voices, particularly at a time when approximately two million Palestinians in Gaza are suffering under military operations that some consider genocide by the Israeli military.
Following Netflix’s reaction to the activists’ opposition, Sunjeev Bery, head of Freedom Forward, expressed disapproval in a separate statement over the decision to let the licensing agreement expire.
Bery questions why Netflix didn’t renew the licensing agreement for the 19 Palestinian movies they previously carried. Given Netflix’s massive $300 billion valuation, it seems capable of renewing licenses for films it values. With Palestinians enduring significant hardship, Bery believes Netflix should make an effort to share their stories globally. Regrettably, Netflix has let most of its Palestinian film collection vanish.
The availability of specific films and series on streaming platforms like Netflix and others changes due to licensing agreements in various regions, such as the U.S. and other nations. For example, Netflix no longer offers Friends for streaming in the U.S. because Warner Bros. obtained the rights to that show for its Max platform. Similarly, Mr. Robot is not available on Netflix in Arabic-speaking countries.
Currently, Netflix continues to offer content from Palestinian creators. Notably, there’s only one film from the “Palestinian Stories” collection available, which is the 2019 documentary titled “Ibrahim A Fate to Define“, directed by Lina Al Abed.
Among the many individuals and groups who added their names to the Freedom Forward coalition letter, I’m proud to be associated with esteemed organizations such as the Arab American Action Network, Council on American Islamic Relations, Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, National Network for Arab American Communities, and U.S. Palestinian Community Network. Together, we stand united in our cause.
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2024-10-25 22:54