STORY: Palestinian-Syrian film director Abdallah Al-Khatib accused Germany of being "partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel" at the Berlin Film Festival, prompting a German minister to walk out of the awards ceremony on Saturday (February 21).

The remarks by Al-Khatib, whose "Chronicles From the Siege" won the Berlinale's Perspectives section for emerging filmmakers, capped a politically charged festival, with organisers facing criticism from actors and directors for not taking a stance on the war in Gaza.

Discussions about Israeli actions are particularly sensitive in Germany, which has become one of Israel's staunchest supporters, principally because of historical guilt for the Nazi Holocaust - a policy known as the "Staatsraison". The German government has said Israel had a right to self-defence after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.

"Some people told me, maybe you have to be careful before you say what I want to say now, because you are a refugee in Germany, and there are so many red lines. But I don't care. I care about my people, about Palestine," said Al-Khatib, standing on stage with a keffiyeh scarf draped on his shoulder and raising a Palestinian flag at the end of his speech late on Saturday.

"So I will say my final word to the German government. You are partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel. I believe you are intelligent enough to recognise this truth, but you choose to not care."

German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, who was in the audience, walked out following the remarks. Schneider was the only governmental representative present in the audience. "The Federal Minister considers these statements unacceptable and therefore left the event during the speech," a spokesperson said on Sunday.

Multiple human rights experts, scholars and a U.N. inquiry say Israel's assault on Gaza amounted to genocide. Israel calls its actions self-defence.

Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor praised Schneider's reaction to the speech. "Respect for Minister Schneider and his moral clarity," he told Germany's Bild newspaper.

Berlin's film festival, known by its nickname the Berlinale, has a reputation for being more politicised than its peers, Venice and Cannes - and this year's edition was marked by frequent discussions about the war in Gaza. German director Wim Wenders used his final appearance as jury president to urge filmmakers and activists to act as allies, not rivals, after his comment that filmmakers should not be political caused Indian novelist Arundhati Roy to pull out.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 21, 2026) (IFB - Access all)

1. FILMMAKER ABDALLAH AL KHATIB, WINNER OF THE BEST FIRST FEATURE AWARD IN THE PERSPECTIVES SECTION WITH "CHRONICLES FROM THE SIEGE" ON STAGE AFTER RECEIVING THE AWARD

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English), FILMMAKER ABDALLAH AL KHATIB, WINNER OF THE BEST FIRST FEATURE AWARD IN THE PERSPECTIVES SECTION WITH "CHRONICLES FROM THE SIEGE", SAYING:

"We will remember everyone who stood with us, and we will remember every one who stood against us. Against our right to live with dignity, or who choose silence, who chose to be silent."

3. APPLAUSE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English), FILMMAKER ABDALLAH AL KHATIB, WINNER OF THE BEST FIRST FEATURE AWARD IN THE PERSPECTIVES SECTION WITH "CHRONICLES FROM THE SIEGE", SAYING:

"Some people told me 'maybe you have to be careful', before you say what I want to say now. 'Because you are a refugee in Germany, and there is so many red lines. But I don't care. I care about my people, about Palestine. So I will say, my final word to the German government, you are partner in the genocide in Gaza by Israel. I believe you are intelligent enough to recognize this truth. But you chose to not care. Free Palestine from now until the end of the world."

5. AL KHATIB HOLDING FLAG

6. STAGE AND AUDIENCE

BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 21, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. VARIOUS OF GERMAN MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURE PROTECTION AND THE SAFETY OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES, CARSTEN SCHNEIDER ON THE RED CARPET AHEAD OF THE CEREMONY

8. VARIOUS OF FILMMAKER ABDALLAH AL KHATIB AND CREW ON THE RED CARPET

9. JURY PRESIDENT OF THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL TRICIA TUTTLE ON RED CARPET