Protest Against Controversial Documentary in New York
A small gathering of protesters faced the chilly nor’easter weather in New York City on Saturday to express their concerns over the North American premiere of a documentary deemed controversial regarding the Gaza War, which has drawn criticism for being anti-Israel.
Demonstrators, holding Israeli flags and signs, convened outside Lincoln Center in Columbus Circle as “NAZA” made its debut. Supporters of Israel have slammed the film for relying on anonymous sources to make assertions about the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) against Palestinians.
Noa Peri-Jensch from the Israeli-American Council (IAC) commented on the situation, stating, “History cannot be altered. There are parts of history that happened on October 7th that have been ignored in the film.”
She further claimed that the movie misleadingly portrays the IDF and Israel as systematically violent, which she described as far from the truth. Peri-Jensch emphasized the need for filmmakers to approach their subjects responsibly, insisting, “We need to bring all voices. We need to show the truth, and not spread lies.”
The documentary, created by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor with collaboration from The Guardian, alleges that the Israeli military operates with a predetermined code regarding civilian fatalities in airstrikes, and cites an anonymous figure claiming that using AI to kill Palestinians was “insanely fun.”
While receiving acclaim overseas — it enjoyed a 24-minute standing ovation at its premiere in Venice — the film has faced backlash. The Guardian has acknowledged that “the film features interviews with 24 members of Israeli intelligence and military, granted on the condition of anonymity,” a detail that has led to condemnation from officials in Israel.
Shalev Biton, a 27-year-old survivor of the Nova Festival attack, expressed similar sentiments, asserting that “NAZA” is both misleading and divisive. He noted, “I am here to show that this thing happened to both of the sides. I was affected.”
During the protest, trucks encircled the area showing footage of the events on October 7, alongside material that challenges the claims presented in “NAZA,” including its sources, methods, and overall production.
Organized by the IAC, these trucks displayed clips from “October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre,” which is a collection of unfiltered footage from the tragic events in Israel, including videos captured by Hamas during the incident.
Biton got visibly emotional as one of the trucks paused in front of him, displaying footage of individuals he knew who had died during the Nova Festival. “It’s never easy to see the footage but in this context, people should see that,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, New York resident David Cohen, aged 55, cautioned the documentary’s creators, saying, “Show the film, no problem, but understand the circumstances.” He added, “It’s a horrible situation, but what we stand for is important. We’re supporting Israel.”
Despite the controversy, both The Guardian and the filmmakers remain steadfast in their defense of the documentary, asserting that all sources have been thoroughly vetted and claiming that their approach is consistent with mainstream investigative journalism.
