Whistleblower Claims "200 Meters" Film Crew Paid Him to Exaggerate Civilian Casualties

A young man claiming to be a source for the documentary film "200 Meters" (Naz'a) has accused its creators of fabricating and inflating casualty figures for financial gain. In an interview with private investigator Shmulik Maman, published by Walla, the individual alleged that he was offered money to exaggerate the number of civilian casualties.

"They offered me ten shekels for every additional victim I would mention," the source claimed, stating that figures like 400 or 500 casualties were nonexistent. He asserted that the lure of cash payments encouraged people to provide inflated and false data. The source contrasted this with his experience in the military, stating that the worst-case scenario for collateral damage he witnessed was around 90, with approximately 50% of those being Hamas operatives. He also criticized the film's data collection methods, questioning if Palestinian health officials were ever contacted.

Expressing regret for his involvement, the young man directed sharp criticism at the filmmakers, accusing them of being driven solely by money and of selling out their country for an anti-Israeli ideology. The private investigator, Maman, stated he was merely a platform for the source's testimony and could not verify the claims. Neither the source nor the investigation agency has provided concrete proof of his participation or payment.

The allegations surface amid strong reactions from Israeli military leadership. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered a legal review of the film, which won an award at the Venice Film Festival. Zamir described the film as a deliberate attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the IDF and Israel, based on "blood libels, deliberate distortion of reality, and false and serious accusations against IDF soldiers and commanders."

The IDF has also approached the Shin Bet for assistance in investigating the film, particularly concerned about the potential use of classified or restricted information. The investigation is examining the identities of interviewees, especially those potentially still serving in the IDF or reserves. Unit 8200 is a focal point due to its extensive connections with intelligence agencies and international entities, and concerns about potential damage to its operations and personnel. The military indicated that active-duty soldiers involved in disseminating prohibited information would face consequences.