Palestinian-Syrian director Abdallah Al-Khatib accused Germany of being "partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel" at the Berlin Film Festival.
Khatib's "Chronicles From the Siege" won the Berlinale's Perspectives section for emerging filmmakers. Organizers of the festival had faced heavy criticism from actors and directors for not taking a stance on Israel's war on Gaza.
Germany has become one of Israel's staunchest supporters, ostensibly because of historical guilt for the Nazi Holocaust — a policy known as the "Staatsraison," and stands by its stance that Israel "has a right to self-defense."
"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 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 recognize this truth, but you choose to not care."
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, who was in the audience, walked out following the remarks. "The Federal Minister considers these statements unacceptable and therefore left the event during the speech," a spokesperson for the German environment ministry said on Sunday.
Human rights experts, scholars and a U.N. inquiry say Israel's assault on Gaza amounts to genocide.
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.
Politically charged Berlinale
The Berlinale has a reputation for being more politicized 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.
Several other award winners used their speeches to express solidarity with the Palestinians.
"The least we can do here is to break the silence and remind them that they are not really alone," said Turkish filmmaker Emin Alper, referring to Palestinians living in Gaza and other peoples around the world.
Lebanese director Marie-Rose Osta, who won the Golden Bear for best short film for "Yawman ma Walad" (Someday, A Child) also used her acceptance speech to shed light on the plight on the Palestinians and Lebanese suffering at the hands of relentless Israeli aggression.
"Thank you to the Berlinale, this important platform for the visibility of cinema in which I wanted to participate, refusing the silencing of our independent voices. Thank you for this recognition that matters to me. Thank you for this award, which means in my eyes that the children of Lebanon and Gaza are not negotiable," Osta declared from the stage as she received her award.
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