Israeli Journalist Defends Gaza Documentary Creators Amidst Government Backlash

Israeli journalist Raviv Drucker has publicly defended Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shor, the creators of the documentary "NZA," which presents testimonies from soldiers describing actions in Gaza. The film, produced by The Guardian, has sparked a severe backlash in Israel, with government officials calling for sanctions against the filmmakers.

Drucker, who interviewed Avraham, stated on his X account that the "hate campaign" against the creators is "ugly and dangerous." He emphasized that Avraham and Shor are driven by a "deep sense of mission" and a belief that their work will help Israeli society, noting that they have "sacrificed a lot" for their ideological cause. Drucker pointed out that Avraham's daily work is "Sisyphean" and not lucrative, suggesting that the film's award at the Venice Film Festival might have misled some.

According to Drucker's interpretation of his interview with Avraham, the filmmaker felt compelled to release the "terrible things" he believes happened in Gaza because the IDF was not investigating, foreign journalists were barred from entry, and the Israeli media was not covering the events. Drucker acknowledged that this approach is debatable but argued that the filmmakers are "a million times more deserving of living here safely than the Jewish terror youths" who face no repercussions.

In response to the film, Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar has asked the Population and Immigration Authority to consider revoking Avraham and Shor's citizenship. Zohar also wrote to Shin Bet Director David Barnea, demanding an investigation into the sources of information and security materials used in the film's production and how the creators obtained them.