Twelve documentary makers and artists have pulled their work from the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) following the festival organizers' strong condemnation of the use of the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" during an opening-night protest.

The activists holding the sign were advocating for a secular state in historic Palestine, while some associate the slogan with radical militant groups seeking Israel's eradication.

Orwa Nyrabia, the artistic director of IDFA, initially applauded the intervention but later clarified that he supported freedom of speech, not the specific slogan. The festival organizers denounced the use of the words, stating it contradicted their goal of providing a safe space for civic debate.

Before the festival's statement, 16 Israeli film industry figures expressed dismay at the protest and its positive reception. In response to IDFA's stance, the Palestine Film Institute (PFI) protested, as the slogan is viewed differently by various groups.

Twelve filmmakers, including juror Basma al-Sharif, withdrew their films in solidarity with PFI's call. Al-Sharif argued that the slogan supports equal rights for all faiths, accusing IDFA of aligning with Israeli government propaganda.

The slogan, referencing the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, is also found in Hamas's 2017 constitution. Germany recently classified it as a mark of the radical Islamist group, akin to publicly displaying a swastika. However, in the Netherlands, where IDFA is held, the slogan has legal protection on free speech grounds, according to a recent court ruling.

Notably, not all Palestinian filmmakers withdrew their work. Mohamed Jabaly's film, "Life is Beautiful," addressing statelessness, will continue to be showcased. Jabaly emphasized the importance of preserving stories and freedom of expression amidst destruction.