Palestine Under Siege is a film set on the West Bank in Palestine. It examines the Israeli Occupation through interviews conducted with Jewish activists and Palestinians. This is an online screening being held across zoom at 3.00 PM Adelaide time on 9 November 2025 (2.30 Brisbane time, and 3.30 in Sydney and Melbourne).

Cost is $20 for an adult and there are cheaper prices for concessions and children. There is also a family price of $50 for a family of 2 adults and 2 or more kids. If this time is not suitable, there is even a pay it forward ticket which you can purchase to buy a ticket for someone who wants to come but can't afford to. Please, if you are purchasing a pay it forward ticket email me on chris@schmidt4sturt.au and tell me so that I can offer it to someone and email them the zoom link,

The zoom link will be emailed out once your ticket order is confirmed. You can also still make a donation to our fundraiser. The links are on the bottom of the page.

The screening of this movie is timely. Many are saying the war in Gaza is over and are therefore questioning why people are still demonstrating and talking about Palestine. It’s because there might be a ceasefire but Palestine has not achieved independence, justice and freedom.

The money from this will be split between two refugee causes: 1. Hassan and 2. The Butterfly of Hope Humanitiarian Organisation. It really is the same issue as the rights of Palestinians as refugees are displaced from their country just like Palestinians are displaced off of their land. Both groups are fighting for freedom, justice and liberty and both groups are denied natural justice and as a result, are dying.

Firstly, we are raising funds to #FreeHassan who is a journalist who stood up for women’s rights in Kabul and had to flee. He was shot in the hand in a demonstration in Kabul and fled for his life. He is also registered nurse, and he has been offered a job in aged care in Brisbane and been given a special skilled visa to come to Australia. We still need about $20 000 for final visa expenses, airfares and settlement costs.

The rest of the money will go to #ButterflyOfHope. This is a new charity working with those Afghans who have previously fled Afghanistan but are now being forced back to Afghanistan by surrounding countries. Over 2.5 million people have gone back to Afghanistan since the start of 2025. Most of these are still in danger from the Taliban, but the situation is the most difficult for the women and children. The women have no rights under the Taliban and mothers tell of boiling grass by the side of the road to feed their children.

In addition, over 5000 unaccompanied minors were deported in one month by Iran. Many of the children can’t access education and they are at risk of radicalisation by the Taliban. The girls are a target for sex trafficking and forced marriage. This creates a cycle of poverty which we aim to break through meeting their basic needs and providing education.

Please, if you can, donate a little extra to our Butterfly of Hope Fundraiser. Until end of November, 50% of this money will be going to finalising Hassan’s journey to Australia too. See: https:// https://chuffed.org/project/138011-butterfly-of-hope-afghan-support.

In this film, three Australians – Dr Peter Slezak, Rand Darwish and Lee Rhiannon- take you into the middle of the struggle for Palestinian self-determination. Palestinian people, and Palestinian and Jewish activists, share how they live under the Israeli Apartheid system, as well as sharing their insights. This is done through many interviews.

Peter Slezak is a university philosophy professor while Rand Darwish is an Australian student activist born in Palestine. Lee Rhiannon was a former Senator for the Greens. They travelled to the West Bank to investigate the claim that Israel was an apartheid state. The claim seems outrageous on the surface, but they found much to back up this claim, including the systematic expulsion of Palestinians from various neighbourhoods. In addition, they found a legal system that had separate laws for Palestinians and Jews, favouring Jewish settlers over Palestinians.

The three Australians conducted interviews to get at the truth. Among others, they interviewed:

Salman Abu Sitta, a Palestinian researcher and survivor of Al Nakba, who sets out a detailed plan that shows how it is possible to reconstruct destroyed Palestinian villages and for Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland
Dr Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian politician and winner of the 2003 Australian Peace Prize, provides valuable insights into the one state - two state discussion and reflects on the tragedy of Israel's blockade of Gaza.
Representatives of the Hebron Human Rights Defenders speak and share disturbing videos of the actions of illegal settlers and Israeli soldiers in Hebron, who regularly taunt, spit on, throw rubbish at and attack Palestinians.

This documentary was filmed and edited by Australian filmmakers, John Reynolds and Jill Hickson of Dare to Struggle Films. They partnered with Wattan TV who are secular Palestinian Television service operating on the West Bank and the Hebron Human Rights Defenders. The result was this insightful film.

If you came to this event page by some other method than Facebook, please mark yourself as going on our Facebook event and invite all your Facebook friends. The page is found at https://www.facebook.com/events/859346263082507

Below is the trailer for Palestine Under Siege

We are having other events to help us raise the needed money for our displaced peoples' projects:

1. Palestinians Don't Need Sidewalks: Online Movie Screening 3 PM 30 Nov 2025, Adelaide time. The Facebook event is https://www.facebook.com/events/1497512671472211/ . The Humanitix event page is https://events.humanitix.com/palestinians-don-t-need-sidewalks-online-screening

2. Butterfly of Hope Fundraising Concert: This is on 21 Feb 2026 at 7 PM in Brisbane. However, there is also a streaming option and you can watch it online. See: https://www.facebook.com/events/1366250285243282

We also have a chuffed fundraiser. Even $2 can make a difference so please give as much as you can. See: https://chuffed.org/project/138011-butterfly-of-hope-afghan-support

Endorsements

“Israel is destroying Palestine. This documentary shows why we should not stand by and watch.” Julian Burnside

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“What a journey. You met a lot of people. You saw things on the ground. Very powerful. Your film ends with the tragic scenes of Genocide in Gaza and people’s reaction to it world wide. It is sad but appropriate fitting end to your journey of discovery. The 20,000 killed of whom 70% were women and children are a lasting record of the Zionist barbarity which will overshadow history of the Jews for ever.” Salman Abu Sitta, American University Beirut

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Help stop the Israeli genocide in Gaza. World powers will only speak up for Palestine when our public voice is so loud and strong it cannot be ignored. The documentary, “Palestine Under Siege”, is a great tool to help build this campaign. It informs and inspires us to take action.

David Shoebridge, Green MP Senator

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Contact Details
Chris Schmidt: Ph 0459 573 941
Email: chris@schmidt4sturt.au