Israeli Director Defends Controversial Gaza War Film After Venice Win

Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, co-director of the documentary "NozA" (meaning "Collateral Damage"), has addressed the controversy surrounding his film, which won an award at the Venice Film Festival and sparked outrage in Israel. Abraham stated that his primary goal is for Israelis to see and hear the testimonies of soldiers and intelligence officers featured in the film, which is based on accounts from 24 Israeli soldiers and officers who served in Gaza. He emphasized that the soldiers speak Hebrew specifically to reach the Israeli public and encourage them to confront the actions in Gaza.

"NozA" presents difficult claims regarding the IDF's conduct in the Strip, target selection, and civilian casualties. Abraham and his co-director, Rachel Shore, have been critical of Israel, with Abraham asserting that silence can be complicity in wrongdoing and that one aim of the film is to counter the denial of what he termed "crimes" in Gaza. He also criticized the Israeli media for largely ignoring or justifying events in Gaza.

Abraham drew parallels to the Holocaust, referencing Primo Levi and arguing that the lesson of "never again" should mean that all human lives are sacred, including those of Palestinians in Gaza. He clarified that he is not equating the situation in Gaza with the Holocaust but is highlighting what he perceives as dehumanization mechanisms. Shore added that a significant portion of Israeli society claims there are no innocent civilians in Gaza and explained that filming the interviewees on Tel Aviv rooftops was meant to highlight the disparity between life in Israel and the destruction in the Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have strongly rejected the film's allegations, stating that it relies on anonymous testimonies that cannot be verified regarding the sources' service, roles, or knowledge of the events they describe. The IDF maintains it operates in accordance with international law, targets terrorist organizations like Hamas, and makes efforts to minimize civilian harm. The military also clarified that decisions regarding strikes are made solely by human personnel, not artificial intelligence.