Recently, Netflix faced backlash after announcing that 19 films centred on Palestinian stories would soon be removed from its platform. Critics perceived this decision as a lack of support for Palestinian voices.
Freedom Forward, a San Francisco-based organization, responded by releasing an open letter and petition seeking clarification from Netflix regarding this removal.
The films were licensed by Front Row Filmed Entertainment, a Dubai-based company. Notable titles include Elia Suleiman’s Divine Intervention, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and Annemarie Jacir’s Salt of This Sea.
In a statement, Netflix explained, “We launched this licensed collection of films in 2021 for three years. Those licenses have now expired. As always, we continue to invest in a wide variety of quality films and TV shows to meet our members’ needs and celebrate voices from around the world.”
However, this response did little to quell the frustration among many users on social media. One user, known as Brian S, expressed a common sentiment by tweeting, “Zionist Jews are busy taking control of most media and entertainment sites. @netflix proves to be a tool of Zionist antisemitism: deleting Palestinian content.”
Interestingly, as Netflix has faced criticism over the removal of these films, it has simultaneously expanded its selection of Arab and Muslim films.
The platform now features a variety of Egyptian films and recent releases from Saudi Arabia, including Basma, which follows a young woman returning to Jeddah after studying abroad, and Barakh Meets Barakh, a romantic comedy about a social media influencer entangled with a wealthy, conservative family.
Additionally, Netflix is offering reality shows like Love is Blind: Habibi, a matchmaking series set in Dubai.
