IDF Soldier's Cousin Slams Gaza Doc as 'Malicious Attack' on Military
Yochai Gringlik, the cousin of fallen IDF soldier Staff Sergeant Shauli Gringlik, has sharply criticized the documentary "NezA" by Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shore. Gringlik asserted that the damage the filmmakers allegedly inflicted on Israel and the IDF is not accidental but "deliberate and malicious," accusing them of actively participating in global antisemitic blood libels.
He countered the film's portrayal by stating that the IDF makes significant efforts to avoid civilian casualties, calling it "the most moral army in the world." Gringlik cited instances of the IDF warning civilians before strikes, canceling operations due to potential civilian harm, and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, sometimes at the risk of its own soldiers' lives.
Gringlik also commented on the film's reception at the Venice Film Festival, where he claimed it received prolonged applause. He stated that the filmmakers had caused more damage to Israel than Iranian spies, adding, "In Venice they applauded them for 25 minutes, but here in Israel they will hate them their whole lives."
He specifically addressed a photograph of his cousin, Shauli Gringlik, assisting an elderly Gazan woman during combat. "My cousin Shauli Gringlik, may he rest in peace, is helping an old woman in Gaza," he said, emphasizing the image was taken directly from the field without blurring faces. Gringlik challenged the filmmakers, asking, "Maybe you will make a film about this, Yuval and Rachel?"
Recounting the incident, Gringlik explained that Shauli, who fought in Gaza in December 2023, encountered the elderly woman in a wheelchair amidst intense fighting. Despite the danger, Shauli ensured she was moved to safety. Gringlik noted that Shauli, who had previously appeared on the reality show "The Star Next Star" in uniform, chose to forgo his dream to fight in Gaza. Shauli Gringlik, 26, fell in Gaza on December 26, 2023, along with his commander and friend, First Lieutenant Shay Shmariz.
