Israeli Journalist to Release Gaza War Documentary Online Amid Threats

Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham announced that his documentary film, "NAZA," will soon be available for free online viewing indefinitely. This decision was made in collaboration with co-director Rachel and The Guardian newspaper, with the online release planned for November. Abraham stated the film would be made available "at the earliest possible date." In the interim, the filmmakers have offered the documentary to Israeli cinemas for free screenings within the country, to coincide with its international distribution. Abraham believes programming the film would be a "courageous" act in the face of pressure and threats aimed at preventing its release.

"NAZA" is the result of three years of journalistic investigation and features filmed testimonies from 24 Israeli soldiers. The documentary aims to spark public debate regarding the conduct of the war in Gaza. It reportedly includes accusations concerning rules of engagement, strikes on civilian homes, infrastructure destruction, and firing near food distribution points. Abraham asserts that the information presented has been verified and cross-referenced. He stated, "Journalism is not treason. Criticism is not treason," and encouraged military personnel who witnessed similar events to share their experiences.

Abraham clarified that acknowledging the events in Gaza does not diminish the severity of the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, which he described as atrocious and unjustifiable. He also denounced threats he received over the past week, vowing they would not deter him from returning to Israel and continuing his work. The accusations in the documentary are attributed to its creators and the interviewed soldiers. Hamas, however, has called on the International Criminal Court, UN bodies, and human rights organizations to utilize the testimonies in "NAZA" for their investigations into potential war crimes. The militant group claims these testimonies support its accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Israel, claims that Israeli authorities have repeatedly rejected.