Netflix is facing backlash from human rights organizations following its decision not to renew the “Palestinian Stories” collection, a curated selection of 19 films that highlights Palestinian narratives and experiences.
Launched in October 2021, the collection is set to be removed from the platform at the end of October as the three-year licensing period expires.
Freedom Forward, a human rights group, publicly criticized the streaming service, expressing disappointment in the removal of nearly all the films in the collection, with only one film remaining available.
The organization, along with others like the Council on American Islamic Relations and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, has raised concerns about Netflix’s commitment to diverse storytelling.
The collection featured notable films such as Rani Massalha’s Giraffada, Jessica Habie’s Mars at Sunrise, and Elia Souleiman’s Chronicle of a Disappearance.
A Netflix representative confirmed that the licenses for these films had expired, stating, “We launched this licensed collection of films in 2021 for three years. Those licenses have now expired.”
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Despite the removal, Netflix maintains that it continues to invest in a variety of films and TV shows to showcase voices from around the world.
The situation has sparked discussions about the responsibility of streaming platforms to represent underrepresented communities and how they balance business decisions with commitments to diversity and inclusion.
