Oscar-winning Jewish Director Refutes Jewishness on Stage

Sunday night at the Academy Awards, Oscar winner Jonathan Glazer made a disjointed statement about the Israel-Hamas war and the October 7th massacre. The British Jewish director won “Best International Feature” with his German language film The Zone of Interest, about the commandant of Auschwitz and his family living on the death camp grounds. Glazer used his acceptance speech to discuss the war in the middle east, but his words were hard to follow and have sparked controversy. His statement in full is quote, “All our choices were made to reflect and confront us in the present, not to say that what they did then, rather than what we do now. Our film shows where dehumanization leads, at its worst, it shaped all of our past and present. Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many for so many innocent people. Whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization. How do we resist?” end quote. Many Jews worldwide are offended by his comments on “refuting Jewishness” and the “Holocaust being hijacked,” as it seems he is blaming Israel for the atrocities committed on October 7th and the war that follows. Meanwhile, many Oscar attendees wore red pins calling for a ceasefire. No yellow ribbons for the release of hostages were seen at the event, nor was the topic mentioned that evening.