Mohammad Bakri, renowned Palestinian director of Jenin, Jenin, dies at 72

The renowned Palestinian actor and director Mohammad Bakri died on Wednesday at the age of 72.

He passed away in a hospital in the Israeli city of Nahariya after suffering from heart-related illnesses, according to his family. His health had deteriorated in recent days.

Bakri was best known for his 2002 documentary Jenin, Jenin, which documented the Israeli invasion of the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. 

The film drew on interviews with Palestinian residents who survived the military assault.

The 11-day offensive killed 52 Palestinians, including women, the elderly and children, and nearly 300 homes were demolished by Israeli bulldozers.

The documentary sparked controversy in Israel and led to years of legal action against Bakri, including repeated attempts to ban the film. In 2021, an Israeli court prohibited its screening nationwide.

Despite sustained incitement and legal pressure, Bakri repeatedly affirmed his determination to convey the oppression faced by the Palestinian people to a global audience through his art. 

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