Human Rights Groups Back Filmmakers Facing Threats Over Gaza War Film

Forty-three Israeli human rights, equality, and peace organizations issued a joint statement on Wednesday expressing support for filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, creators of the film "Nezah." The backing comes in response to a wave of attacks and threats directed at the filmmakers.

The organizations urged Israeli authorities to halt incitement and threats of violence, and to refrain from any attempts to persecute the creators or their sources. "The institutional response to the film and the threats against its creators are characteristic of dictatorial regimes," the statement read. The groups vehemently rejected calls to revoke Abraham and Shor's citizenship for their work, asserting that "citizenship is not a prize granted by the regime or the government, but a fundamental right belonging to each and every one of us."

Emphasizing that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are integral to the fight for democracy, the signatories warned that persecution and attempts to silence critical voices do not stop with one person or one issue. Although most signatories had not yet seen the film, they stated that its core subject, Israel's use of force policy in Gaza, warrants serious examination.

Addressing the high civilian death toll and difficult testimonies emerging from the war, the organizations called for a thorough investigation into the allegations. They also urged for journalists to be allowed access to Gaza to independently examine the facts, thereby enabling accountability and the drawing of conclusions based on findings.