IDF Chief of Staff Defends Military Morality Amid Film Controversy

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed the controversy surrounding the film 'All of Us Are People' during an event honoring donors to the Association for the Soldier. While not explicitly naming the film, Zamir stated that the phrase "All of Israel are responsible for one another" reflects the "deepest expression of the individual's responsibility for the welfare of the entire nation." He criticized attempts to tarnish IDF soldiers and commanders through "lies and baseless manipulations," asserting that mutual responsibility should guide responses to such efforts. Zamir emphasized the need to defend the IDF's legitimacy on the international stage, calling it a "national and international mission" to declare that "the IDF is the most moral army in the world."

He highlighted the IDF's commitment to its values and international law, particularly in light of deliberate attacks on Israeli civilians and missile launches at cities. Zamir stated, "We are doing everything in our power to avoid harming innocent people." This comes as coalition chair Ofir Katz joined Culture Minister Miki Zohar's call to revoke the citizenship of the film's creators, Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shore, criticizing the portrayal of IDF soldiers as murderers.

Meanwhile, the IDF continues its operations in Gaza, recently eliminating two Hamas military wing commanders. The IDF spokesperson stated that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm during these strikes, including the use of precision munitions and aerial observation. A senior IDF official noted on Monday that the collateral damage in Gaza, especially post-ceasefire, is "unprecedented in global terms," with Americans studying the IDF's performance. The official added that assassinations are carried out with precise, small munitions, and the collateral damage ratio is currently less than 1:1, meaning fewer than one civilian is killed for every terrorist eliminated.

According to IDF data, 550 terrorists have been eliminated in Gaza since the ceasefire began, maintaining the lowest collateral damage rate since October 7. Earlier, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efraim Daffin had requested the filmmakers allow the military to view the full film to respond factually. However, Lt. Gen. Zamir had previously stated in a consultation that the film represents a "deliberate attempt to directly harm the legitimacy of the IDF and the State of Israel," characterizing it as based on "blood libels, deliberate distortion of reality, and false and severe accusations against soldiers and commanders."