Israeli Director Yuval Abraham Responds to Controversy Over Gaza Film

Director Yuval Abraham, whose documentary "No Other Land" (N.A.L.) recently won an award at the Venice Film Festival, has broken his silence regarding the ensuing public controversy in Israel. Abraham stated that his primary goal was never the award itself, but rather to spark a critical internal discussion within Israeli society about the realities depicted in his film. The documentary features testimonies from 24 IDF intelligence officers and soldiers who participated in combat operations in the Gaza Strip. These individuals raise serious concerns about the army's targeting policies and their impact on the civilian population.

Abraham emphasized that the soldiers' willingness to share their experiences stems from a deep-seated need to communicate with the Israeli public. "They are speaking in Hebrew because they want to reach the Israeli public. They want people at home to hear what they did in Gaza," he explained. "It is important for our society to look at the actions in Gaza and listen to the soldiers in the film."

Despite facing widespread criticism and denials since the Venice announcement, Abraham remains resolute. He announced plans for a domestic public relations campaign to ensure the film reaches a broad Israeli audience. "We will do everything to distribute this film as widely as possible in the country," Abraham declared.

He concluded his statement with a direct challenge to his detractors: "I ask all the people who are attacking us now, who deny what is in the film, watch it first."