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Manila Bulletin devider Embassies & Foreign Affairs devider Palestinian Embassy commemorates Nakba with 'Tantura' screening

Palestinian Embassy commemorates Nakba with 'Tantura' screening

Published Jun 20, 2026 08:33 am
Ambassador Mounir Anastas of the State of Palestine delivers his remarks. (Photos: Embassy of the State of Palestine in the Philippines)
Ambassador Mounir Anastas of the State of Palestine delivers his remarks. (Photos: Embassy of the State of Palestine in the Philippines)
The Embassy of the State of Palestine in the Philippines commemorated the 78th anniversary of the Nakba with a special screening of the documentary “Tantura” at Dusit Thani Manila on May 21.
Directed by Israeli filmmaker Alon Schwarz, the award-winning documentary examines the events surrounding the 1948 war through testimonies collected by researcher Teddy Katz in the 1990s. The film revisits allegations surrounding the village of “Tantura” and explores questions of displacement, memory, and historical accountability.
The screening formed part of the embassy’s annual observance of the Nakba, the Arabic term meaning “catastrophe,” which Palestinians use to refer to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Palestinian Ambassador Mounir Anastas welcomes guests to the event
Palestinian Ambassador Mounir Anastas welcomes guests to the event
In his remarks, Palestinian Ambassador Mounir Anastas said the commemoration was intended not only as a reflection on history but also as a discussion of contemporary realities facing Palestinians.
“The Nakba is not a distant memory; it did not happen 78 years ago only. It started 78 years ago and remains ongoing until today,” Anastas said.
He added that the anniversary serves as an opportunity to reaffirm what Palestinians regard as their rights to freedom, self-determination, and return.
“The Nakba is a lived reality of shattered villages, stolen land, and a right of return that remains unanswered,” he said.
The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, academics, members of civil society, and representatives of the media.
Ambassador Makawadee Sumitmor of theThai Embassy with Ambassador Mounir Anastas, Ambassador Marie Fontanel of the French Embassy, Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova of the Belgian Embassy, and Ambassador Anna Ferry of the Swedish Embassy
Ambassador Makawadee Sumitmor of theThai Embassy with Ambassador Mounir Anastas, Ambassador Marie Fontanel of the French Embassy, Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova of the Belgian Embassy, and Ambassador Anna Ferry of the Swedish Embassy
Throughout the evening, speakers highlighted the role of film, culture, and historical documentation in fostering discussion and awareness of issues affecting the Palestinian people.
Originally nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and later recognized at the Israeli Academy Awards, “Tantura” has generated international discussion for its examination of contested historical narratives surrounding the 1948 conflict.
For the embassy, the screening formed part of broader efforts to engage audiences through cultural diplomacy while encouraging reflection on the historical and humanitarian dimensions of the Palestinian question.

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