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Israel's culture minister has warned to eliminate funding for the country's film awards after A Palestinian Tale, a story about a young Arab youth, received its highest honor.

The film, which chronicles a child from the occupied Palestinian territories who dreams to travel to Tel Aviv to see the sea for the very first occasion, won best film at the Ophir Awards.

“There is no greater slap in the face of Israeli citizens than the shameful and out-of-touch yearly film ceremony ceremony.”

By taking the prize of the best film award at the Ophir awards, The Award-Winning Film is now Israel's submission to the global cinema category at next year's Academy Awards.

Uncertainty Over Funding Threat

It is not yet clear whether the minister is empowered to defund the ceremony, as reported by domestic news outlets.

Stars of The Sea won other major prizes at the ceremony, including teenage Muhammad Gazawi who won the leading performer honor—the youngest ever winner.

Plot Overview

In the film, the actor plays 12-year-old Khaled who is refused access to Israel at an Israel Defense Forces checkpoint during a school excursion to the coastal city.

Khaled then enters secretly the nation and tries to reach the sea while his parent, an unauthorized worker in Israel, attempts to find him.

“This film is about the universal right to live in peace, a basic right we refuse to abandon.”

Government Reaction

However, in his remarks, Zohar labeled the national film honors as “embarrassing and detached”.

The minister continued: “During my tenure, the public will not pay from their pockets for a event that shows disrespect of our brave troops.”

Industry Response

Responding to the minister's comments, Academy Chair stated: “Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza takes a terrible toll in casualties and damage, the ability to understand the 'different perspective'... gives a glimmer of optimism.”

Amir continued: “In the face of the Israeli government's criticism on Israeli cinema, and the demands from sectors of the international film community to boycott us, the selection of The Sea is a powerful and clear response.”

Background Context

It comes after thousands of Hollywood industry professionals signed a vow promising not to collaborate with the country's cinematic bodies which are “involved in genocide”.

The nation initiated its war in the territory in reaction to the militant offensive on southern Israel on last October, in which approximately 1,200 people were died and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least sixty-five thousand people have been killed in Israeli attacks from that point, almost 50% of them minors and females, according to Gaza's medical authorities.

On Tuesday, a UN commission of inquiry declared that the state had carried out systematic destruction toward Palestinians in the region.

The nation's foreign ministry rejected the findings and denounced it “inaccurate and untrue”.