Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees has said a U.S. travel ban is preventing him from attending the 2026 Academy Awards this Sunday (15 March), where a film in which he stars is nominated for best international feature.
The film, the Voice of Hind Rajab, tells the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024. Malhees plays a call centre operator attempting to help her.
“I am not allowed to enter the United States because of my Palestinian citizenship,” Malhees wrote on Instagram, adding that it “hurts” he will be unable to attend the Oscars.
The travel restriction stems from a December proclamation by U.S. President Donald Trump, which limits entry to individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. The proclamation, citing security concerns, came into effect on 1 January, according to the U.S. State Department.
Other Palestinian cast members of the film hold citizenship that permits travel to the U.S., but Malhees only has a Palestinian passport.
The film was inspired by an incident in which five of Rajab’s family members, along with two ambulance workers who responded to the scene, were killed by Israeli fire. Israel says the incident is under review.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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