U.S. Travel Ban Blocks Motaz Malhees From Attending Oscars

Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees has been barred from attending the 2026 Academy Awards due to a U.S. travel ban imposed by President Trump.

“Palestinian Actor Blocked from Oscars by U”

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Despite starring in an Oscar-nominated film, Malhees cannot enter the United States because he holds Palestinian citizenship.

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He revealed the restriction on Instagram, citing Trump's travel ban targeting Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.

His film "The Voice of Hind Rajab" is nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars.

The film dramatizes the killing of a five-year-old Palestinian girl by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024.

Malhees plays a call center operator attempting to help the victim in the critically acclaimed film.

"The Voice of Hind Rajab" directly confronts the Gaza genocide by documenting the real-life killing of five-year-old Palestinian Hind Rajab by Israeli forces in 2024.

The film was spurred by an incident in which Rajab's family members and two ambulance workers who attempted to save her were also killed by Israeli fire.

Entertainment Weekly

Israel claims the incident is under review, but the film serves as a powerful indictment of Israeli military actions that have systematically targeted Palestinian civilians.

The movie's nomination represents a significant moment for Palestinian voices and narratives in international cinema.

The film's relevance is heightened as the Academy Awards ceremony coincides with continued Israeli military operations in Gaza.

The travel ban preventing Malhees from attending the Oscars stems from a December 2025 presidential proclamation.

“Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees said a travel ban imposed by Donald Trump’s administration is preventing him from attending Sunday’s Academy Awards, whose nominees include a movie in which he has a starring role”

South China Morning Post

Trump's initiative explicitly targets Palestinian citizens by restricting entry of those using Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.

The ban cites security reasons and went into effect on January 1, 2026.

This represents part of a broader policy attempting to deport foreign pro-Palestinian voices from the United States.

The restriction comes amid systematic efforts to marginalize Palestinian perspectives challenging Israeli actions.

Motaz Malhees expressed profound disappointment following the travel ban announcement.

He stated "it hurts" that he cannot attend the Oscars despite his starring role in the nominated film.

The Detroit News

In his Instagram post, Malhees declared "You cannot block a voice" in response to the U.S. government's actions.

He highlighted that other Palestinian cast members have citizenship allowing U.S. travel, but he only holds a Palestinian passport.

His stance has drawn international attention to the intersection of artistic expression and U.S. foreign policy.

The situation uniquely impacts Palestinian artists and their ability to participate in international events.

Malhees' exclusion reflects a broader pattern of Palestinian marginalization in international spaces.

“Palestinian Actor Blocked from Oscars by U”

Devdiscourse

Trump's travel ban targeting Palestinian citizens comes amid efforts to silence perspectives documenting Israeli war crimes.

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The situation parallels other cases, such as the detention of Leqaa Kordia who lost over 170 family members in Gaza.

Kordia has been held for a year despite immigration judges ordering her release.

These policies create a chilling effect on Palestinian artists, journalists, and advocates.

They seek to share experiences of Israeli military operations that have killed tens of thousands of civilians.