Mohammad Bakri, the acclaimed Palestinian actor and filmmaker renowned for his politically charged documentary ‘Jenin, Jenin,’ passed away Wednesday at age 72 in an Israeli hospital. His death followed complications from heart-related conditions that had recently worsened, according to family statements.
Bakri’s 2002 documentary ‘Jenin, Jenin’ became his most controversial work, documenting the Israeli military’s assault on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The film presented harrowing testimonies from Palestinian survivors of the 11-day offensive that resulted in 52 Palestinian casualties and the demolition of nearly 300 homes.
The documentary triggered significant backlash in Israel, culminating in a nationwide screening ban imposed by an Israeli court in 2021 after years of legal challenges. Despite sustained pressure and what Bakri described as ‘incitement campaigns,’ the filmmaker remained unwavering in his commitment to exposing Palestinian experiences through cinema.
Born in 1953 in the Galilean town of Bi’ina, Bakri belonged to the Palestinian community that remained within Israel’s borders after the 1948 Nakba. He studied Arabic literature and theater at Tel Aviv University before embarking on an international acting career that spanned theaters across Europe and North America.
Bakri made his cinematic debut at age 30 in Costa-Gavras’s 1983 film ‘Hanna K.’ and later collaborated extensively with Gaza-born director Rashid Masharawi. His directorial debut ‘1948’ (1998) examined the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians during Israel’s founding, featuring survivor testimonies and archival materials.
Throughout his career, Bakri contributed to 43 works as actor, director, and producer. He is survived by his wife Leila and six children, including three sons—Adam, Ziad, and Saleh—who followed him into acting. His seminal work ‘Jenin, Jenin’ remains accessible on Vimeo, preserving his artistic testament to Palestinian resilience.