The Indian release of The Voice of Hind Rajab, the Oscar-nominated Tunisian film about the death of a five-year-old girl during the Israel-Gaza war, has been blocked by the country’s ratings body, according to the film’s Indian distributor.

In a report by Variety, Manoj Nandwana of Mumbai-based Jai Viratra Entertainment said that he was told that if the film was released, it would “break up” India-Israel relations. Nandwana said that he had submitted the film to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in February, with a view to releasing in mid-March, shortly before the Academy Awards. However, Nandwana said the film had not been approved for release. He said: “I told them: the India-Israel relationship is so strong that it’s idiotic to think this movie will break it.”