Yotam Zimri Mocks 'NZI' Film Creators, Credits Channel 12 for 'Greater Damage'
The awarding of the film "NZI" with the Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival continues to spark significant controversy in Israel. The film, directed by Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shor, features anonymous testimonies attributed to soldiers from Military Intelligence and Unit 8200, who described involvement in "operations behind mass killings in Gaza." While the IDF has categorically rejected these claims as "an absolute lie," Culture Minister Miki Zohar has formally requested the Interior Ministry to examine revoking the creators' citizenship on suspicion of aiding the enemy during wartime.
However, media personality Yotam Zimri has taken a particularly sharp and cynical stance on the issue. Amidst widespread public outrage online, Zimri posted on his X account, claiming the filmmakers "rode the success" of a leading Israeli media outlet. "With all due respect to the creators of the film NZI, they simply rode the success of Channel 12 and Guy Peleg, who caused a hundred times more damage with the 'Koa 100' affair," Zimri wrote, adding, "When credit is due, give credit."
In another tweet, he sarcastically questioned the visual appearance of the creators, stating, "How is it that the Israelis who create these films always look exactly like I would imagine Israelis who create these films look?" Zimri's remarks come in the wake of massive defamation lawsuits filed by soldiers from "Koa 100" against Guy Peleg and Channel 12.
These lawsuits accuse Peleg of presenting a "cooked" security video from the Tze'elim training base in an August 2024 report, misleading the public by referencing serious offenses not included in their indictment, which was completely dismissed by the Military Advocate General in March 2026 due to evidentiary difficulties. According to many, including Zimri, the media coverage of that affair caused severe reputational damage to Israel. Zimri is now using the current controversy to jab and recall an incident he believes was likely far more serious than the current disputed film.
