Watermelon+: A Game-Changer Amidst Global Tensions
Bella Hadid's Sibling Partners in Launching Palestinian Film Streaming Platform
Enter Watermelon+, a revolutionary streaming service, birthed by Watermelon Pictures, a production and distribution powerhouse spearheaded by co-CEOs Badie Ali and Hamza Ali, with Alana Hadid as creative director. Debuting at the 2025 Cannes film festival, this platform stormed the scene amidst towering geopolitical tumult.
The Fierce Drive Behind Watermelon+
This innovative media outlet takes no prisoners, focusing on the amplification of unheard voices, particularly those from marginalized and underrepresented communities. Still, its mission doesn't stop there. It yearns to serve as a launchpad for budding artists, a sanctuary for groundbreaking and essential storytelling. The lineup boasts critically acclaimed films like The Teacher, The Present, From Ground Zero, Omar, Five Broken Cameras, and Theeb[1][3].
Global Availability, Affordable Access
Watermelon+ hit the ground running on May 8, 2025. It's available worldwide and offers users the opportunity to immerse themselves in original productions, new releases, series, and classic titles[1][3]. Subscriptions are priced at a modest $7.99 a month or a palatable $79.99 annually, providing a gateway to a world of media that otherwise might remain veiled.
In the United States, Watermelon+ stands as a potent cultural catalyst, offering audiences a fresh take on Palestinian cinema and narratives typically shrouded in shadow in mainstream media[1]. As global tensions escalate, this platform serves as a beacon, shedding light on the reality of the Middle East and providing a platform for change.
The Israel-Palestine conflict reaches beyond headlines, claiming thousands of lives[2]. As it stands, the besieged Hamas-run territory's health ministry reports over 53,000 fatalities resulting from Israeli bombardment[2]. An aid blockade also looms, threatening famine[2].
Amidst this chaos, Watermelon+ seeks to humanize the Palestinian experience, elevating the narrative beyond that of suffering. As Hamza Ali, co-founder of Watermelon Pictures, eloquently puts it, "It's dehumanization and erasure that contribute to the politics. We're more than our suffering. We're a warm, hospitable, creative, funny people"[2].
Israeli leaders have expressed plans to rid Gaza of its over two million inhabitants as part of the ongoing war ignited by the militant group Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel[2]. This unprecedented assault claimed the lives of 1,218 people on the Israeli side[2]. Despite these challenges, Watermelon+ forges ahead, striving to create a space where Palestinian voices can be heard louder than ever before.
In these trying times, President Donald Trump's words resonate deeply. He publicly declared his desire to "take" Gaza and turn it into a "freedom zone"[2]. Earlier this year, he expressively shared his ambition to transform Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East"[2]. With the launch of Watermelon+, the beginning of a new chapter in Palestinian storytelling has arrived.
- Watermelon+, debuted at the 2025 Cannes film festival, is a revolutionary streaming service that is available worldwide, focusing on amplifying unheard voices, particularly from marginalized communities and serving as a launchpad for budding artists.
- Despite the global tensions, Watermelon+ stands as a potent cultural catalyst in the United States, offering audiences a fresh take on Palestinian cinema and narratives typically shrouded in shadow in mainstream media.
- In the midst of the Israel-Palestine conflict, where over 53,000 fatalities have been reported due to Israeli bombardment [2], Watermelon+ seeks to humanize the Palestinian experience and elevate the narrative beyond that of suffering.
- Israeli leaders have expressed plans to rid Gaza of its over two million inhabitants, as part of the ongoing war ignited by the militant group Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel [2]. Despite these challenges, Watermelon+ forges ahead, striving to create a space where Palestinian voices can be heard louder than ever before.
- In the midst of war and conflicts, politics, and crime and justice, Watermelon+ provides a space for general news and entertainment, serving as a beacon of hope amidst towering geopolitical challenges.
