Mohammad Bakri, renowned and controversial Palestinian actor and filmmaker, dies at 72

Palestinian Director and Actor Mohammad Bakri Dies at 72, Leaving Legacy of Cultural Bridge-Building

Mohammad Bakri, a Palestinian director and actor whose work navigated the complex intersection of Israeli and Palestinian identities, has died at the age of 72, his family announced Wednesday. Bakri had been suffering from heart and lung problems prior to his death.

Born in northern Israel and holding Israeli citizenship, Bakri established himself as a powerful cultural voice who used both film and theater to explore the nuances of Palestinian experiences while working in both Arabic and Hebrew media landscapes.

Bakri gained international recognition for his controversial 2003 documentary “Jenin, Jenin,” which chronicled the aftermath of an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city during the second Palestinian intifada. The documentary, focusing on the destruction and emotional impact on Palestinian residents, became a flashpoint in Israeli society and was ultimately banned by Israeli authorities.

The film embroiled Bakri in nearly two decades of legal battles within the Israeli court system. In 2022, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld the ban, ruling that the documentary defamed Israeli soldiers, and ordered Bakri to pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages to an Israeli military officer for defamation.

“‘Jenin, Jenin’ was a turning point in Bakri’s career,” noted Raya Morag, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem specializing in cinema and trauma. “In Israel, he became a polarizing figure and he never worked with mainstream Israeli cinema again.”

Before this controversy, Bakri had established himself as a pioneering figure in Israeli cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in several acclaimed Israeli films. After studying at Tel Aviv University, he even performed at Israel’s national theater in Tel Aviv. His performances in mainstream Israeli films helped reshape perceptions of Palestinians in Israeli society.

“He broke stereotypes about how Israelis looked at Palestinians, allowing someone Palestinian to be regarded as a hero in Israeli society,” Morag explained.

One of his most celebrated works was the 1986 one-man show “The Pessoptimist,” based on the writings of Palestinian author Emile Habiby. The performance delved into the emotional complexities of dual Israeli and Palestinian identities, reflecting Bakri’s own lived experience straddling both worlds.

Bakri’s final film appearance came in the 2025 drama “All That’s Left of You,” which chronicles a Palestinian family across more than 76 years. The film, which has been shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, features Bakri performing alongside his sons, Adam and Saleh Bakri, both established actors in their own right.

Throughout his career, Bakri faced criticism from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide. Some within Palestinian society questioned his collaboration with Israeli artists and institutions, while many in Israel viewed his political stances with suspicion, especially after “Jenin, Jenin.”

“He was a very brave person, standing by his ideals, choosing not to be conformist in any way, and paying the price in both societies,” Morag said. “He was loyal to himself despite all the pressures from inside and outside. He was a firm voice that did not change during the years.”

Bakri’s cousin, Rafic, told the Arabic news site Al-Jarmaq that the actor remained a steadfast advocate for Palestinian rights throughout his life, using his artistic platform to express solidarity with his people.

“I am certain that Abu Saleh will remain in the memory of Palestinian people everywhere and all people of the free world,” Rafic said, using Mohammad Bakri’s nickname.

Bakri’s passing marks the loss of a cultural figure who used art to illuminate the complexities of identity in one of the world’s most contested regions, leaving behind a body of work that challenges audiences to confront difficult political and human realities through the lens of personal stories and shared experiences.