Why did Netflix delete collection of Palestinian films?

Famous OTT platform Netflix is facing criticism for deleting 19 films about Palestinians, however, the platform has claimed that the decision was not based on, but on the issue relating to license expiration.

San Francisco-based human rights organization Freedom Forward has been circulating an open letter and petition calling on Netflix to explain why it had started posting “leaving soon” notifications on at least 19 films by or about Palestinians in recent days.

The films, which were licensed to the platform by Dubai-based Front Row Filmed Entertainment, include Elia Suleiman’s Divine Intervention (2002), Annemarie Jacir’s Salt of this Sea (2008), and Mai Masri’s 3000 Nights (2015), and can still be watched in the US on other platforms.

In its clarification statement, Netflix claimed: “We launched this licensed collection of films in 2021 for three years. Those licenses have now expired. As always, we continue to invest in a wide variety of quality films and TV shows to meet our members’ needs, and celebrate voices from around the world.”  Netflix is still offering several other current films by Palestinian creators on the service, it added.

The Freedom Forward movement is insisting, however, that Netflix explain the reason for removing the films and reinstate the titles on its service immediately.

“I suspected that licensing issues may be at play. At a time of such significant pain and suffering for Palestinians, it seems clear that Netflix should be doing everything in its power to maintain global public access to Palestinian films,” wrote Bery, who is a foreign policy analyst and human rights advocate.

“It is surprising that Netflix has kept silent about the removal of these films, and that Netflix appears not to have put in the effort necessary to renew the licenses involved.”

Netflix has not responded to a question on whether it would reconsider renewing the licenses for the 19 films if the rights were available for a second term.

Freedom Forward’s letter and petition come amid growing global tensions over the year-long Israeli military action in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, triggered by the Hamas October 7 attacks on Southern Israel, which has killed close to 43,000 people, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run local health authority.