Netflix removes Palestinian films, contributing to Palestine erasure

Netflix recently removed its “Palestinian Stories” collection, which contained around 24 films, due to the expiration of three-year licenses. This decision sparked backlash from viewers, with nearly 12,000 people signing a petition calling on Netflix to reinstate the films.

The removal of these films has deeper implications, representing a significant act of cultural erasure and anti-Palestinian racism. This move comes at a time of increased attention on Palestinian narratives, making the removal of these films all the more profound.

Since the Nakba of 1948, Zionist militias have systematically erased Palestinian culture, looting visual archives, books, and cinematic materials. This targeted destruction of cultural materials is a deliberate act to sever the connection between Palestinians and their history.

Palestinian cinema has historically been a vital part of global Third Worldism, aligning with other revolutionary filmmakers worldwide to document the Palestinian liberation struggle and garner international solidarity.

Censorship has long been used to suppress cultural production in the Third World, with films and cultural works conveying anti-colonial sentiments banned by colonial and imperial powers. Many Palestinian cultural workers have faced persecution, imprisonment, and even assassination.

Netflix’s removal of Palestinian films highlights the ongoing struggle for cultural preservation and recognition, making it essential to support and amplify Palestinian voices in cinematic storytelling.