Indian film certification authorities have blocked the release of the Oscar-nominated film "The Voice of Hind Rajab," arguing that its screening could damage relations between India and Israel.
According to reports published by Variety magazine, India's Central Board of Film Certification refused to give approval for the film's distribution, telling distributors that its release "could damage India-Israel relations."
The film by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania tells the story of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl in Gaza, who, according to the documentary, was killed after Israeli soldiers fired hundreds of bullets at the car where she was waiting to be rescued.
The docudrama was received with great excitement at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a 23-minute standing ovation at its premiere.
The film's distributor in India, Manoj Nandwana, said he had submitted it for approval in February with the intention of releasing it in March, but the authorities' decision blocked its release. He said the rejection came just a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Israel.
The film's producers have strongly criticized the decision. Badie Ali, co-founder of production company Watermelon Pictures, said the censorship of the film raises serious questions.
"Since when is a five-year-old girl's cry for help a diplomatic threat?" he said, adding that censorship only shows that Hind Rajab's story still scares those in power.
Director Ben Hania also reacted by mocking the decision on social media, asking whether relations between the "largest democracy in the world" and the "only democracy in the Middle East" are so fragile that they can be ruined by a film.
India and Israel have significantly strengthened their cooperation in recent years, especially in the military field, where India is one of the largest buyers of Israeli weapons.
