Former Hostage Calls for Public Shaming of "NAZA" Film Directors

Former Israeli hostage Eliya Cohen has issued a strong public condemnation of Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the Israeli directors of the documentary "NAZA," which recently received a special jury prize at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. In an Instagram video, Cohen, who was held captive for 505 days after being abducted at the Nova festival, urged Israelis not to allow the filmmakers to resume normal lives in the country. He called for public protests, including distributing photos of Abraham and Szor to humiliate them, and stated that people "should spit on them."

Cohen accused the directors of humiliating soldiers and those who fought for his release, claiming "The blood of our friends and of Jews in the diaspora is on their hands." He expressed deep personal distress over the film's content and thanked supporters for joining his call to action, emphasizing the need to prevent the filmmakers from "walking among us like ordinary people."

The 80-minute documentary "NAZA," produced by The Guardian and JW Films, features anonymous testimonies from 24 Israelis who served in the military and intelligence services. According to the Venice Film Festival's synopsis, the film aims to expose what its creators describe as the "massive and calculated murder of Palestinian civilians in Gaza."

These claims and the film's premise have faced significant backlash in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the documentary as "shocking incitement," accusing it of falsely portraying IDF soldiers as war criminals and fueling global antisemitism. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has ordered a legal review of the testimonies and information presented, rejecting the film's accusations. Culture Minister Miki Zohar called the directors "traitors" and demanded the revocation of their Israeli citizenship.

Yuval Abraham defended the film, stating it is the duty of Israeli citizens to examine their country's actions. The Guardian supported the directors, criticizing attacks from individuals who, according to the newspaper, have not yet seen the film.