Netflix has confronted a wave of criticism for its recent decision to purge 19 films centered on or produced by Palestinians from its streaming platform in mid-October. Addressing the backlash, the streaming giant issued a statement, elucidating that the 'Palestinian Stories' collection, boasting 32 films, was introduced in October 2021 as part of a three-year licensing agreement. "Regrettably, those licenses have now reached their expiration date. Nonetheless, Netflix remains committed to nurturing a diverse landscape of exceptional films and TV shows that cater to our members' diverse interests and elevate voices from every corner of the globe," the company affirmed on Friday.
The decision not to renew the Palestinian-themed slate under the content licensing agreement prompted a consortium of human rights organizations, spearheaded by Freedom Forward, to pen an impassioned open letter to Netflix's executive leadership. The letter urged transparency behind the removal and demanded the reinstatement of the 19 films. "We implore you to clarify your stance and restore every film that portrays or is by Palestinians, which Netflix recently erased. We are gravely alarmed that this act, effectively erasing nearly the entire Palestinian film library, could further silence Palestinian voices amidst the ongoing genocide of over two million Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli military," the letter, addressed to Founder and Executive Chairman Reed Hastings, Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos, fervently stated.
Following Netflix's response, Sunjeev Bery, Executive Director of Freedom Forward, issued a scathing rebuke, questioning the rationale behind allowing the licensing deal to lapse. "Why did Netflix refrain from renewing the licenses for these 19 Palestinian films? As a $300 billion corporation, Netflix can certainly afford to extend the rights to the movies and narratives it deems significant. Palestinians are enduring unimaginable hardships, and Netflix ought to be at the forefront of sharing their stories with the world. Instead, it has allowed the bulk of its Palestinian film archive to vanish into thin air," Bery lamented.
Licensing agreements are instrumental in shaping the ever-evolving content landscape on Netflix and other streaming platforms globally. For instance, Netflix's U.S. audience can no longer binge-watch 'Friends' due to Warner Bros.' acquisition of the series for its Max streaming service. Similarly, 'Mr. Robot' has vanished from Netflix's Arabic offerings.
While Netflix still showcases works by Palestinian creators, the sole remaining film from the 'Palestinian Stories' collection is the 2019 documentary 'Ibrahim A Fate to Define,' directed by Lina Al Abed. The coalition letter, resonating with urgency, was also endorsed by the Arab American Action Network, Council on American Islamic Relations, Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, National Network for Arab American Communities, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, and several other influential organizations.
