Three Films on Gaza War, Israeli Settlements Nominated for Emmy Awards

The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced its Emmy Award nominations on Thursday, September 24, including three films with connections to Israel or the Gaza war. Notably, no works by Israeli filmmakers were nominated. The winners will be announced on November 23 in New York.

In the "Current Affairs" category, "Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War," a documentary by Dutch director Ben Zand for Britain's ITV, is nominated. The film, released in November 2025 and available on YouTube, features testimonies from Israelis who allegedly served in the Gaza war. The Guardian noted the film focuses on issues such as the killing of Palestinian civilians, the use of civilians as human shields, and indiscriminate bombings. The IDF stated to The Guardian that it prohibits using civilians as human shields and investigates any claims of misconduct.

Also nominated in the "Documentary" category is "The Settlers," by British director Louis Theroux, which explores the lives of residents in Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria. In the "News" category, Al Jazeera's "Missing in Gaza" is nominated, focusing on the search for Palestinians who disappeared during the conflict.

The nominations come amid significant discussion surrounding the Israeli film "NAZA" (Collateral Damage), which recently received acclaim at the Venice Film Festival. "NAZA," filmed in Tel Aviv during the Gaza war, features interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers, allegedly from the IDF's Unit 8200 cyber intelligence unit. The film presents accounts of the IDF's policy regarding civilian casualties in counter-terrorism operations, including the use of artificial intelligence to recommend targets, which reportedly led to the deaths of family members of suspected terrorists.

While no Israeli films were nominated this year, Israeli productions have previously been recognized with Emmy Awards, including the series "Nebso" in 2018 and "Tehran" in 2021.