Israeli Documentary on Gaza War Sparks Controversy in Israel
The British newspaper The Guardian, in collaboration with JW Films and MK2, has released the trailer for the documentary film "Nezah." The film, which examines the Gaza war and its consequences, recently won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival and is slated for screening at the New York Film Festival. According to its creators, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, the film was shot over three years on Tel Aviv rooftops and focuses on "examining the military systems and mechanisms behind the harming of Palestinian civilians in Gaza." The production is based on journalistic investigations published between 2023 and 2025 in +972 Magazine, Local Call, and The Guardian.
"Nezah" will be released commercially in 56 countries starting September 28. In the United States, it will be distributed independently from September 30, with screenings beginning at the IFC Center in New York. The Guardian plans to make the film available for free on its website to the general public in late November.
Abraham and Shor stated that the film aims to "examine processes of dehumanization and the functioning of military systems," delving into subjects beyond journalistic reporting that are not typically part of public discourse. The filmmakers recently approached Israeli cinemas with an offer to screen the film for free, concurrent with its international release. Abraham explained this was to allow the Israeli public to see the film despite what he called "violence aimed at its concealment."
In response, Israeli Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar issued an unusual appeal to Israeli cinemas and cinematheques, requesting they refrain from screening the film, whether for a fee or free of charge. Minister Zohar asserted that the film presents false claims against Israel and the IDF, adding that cultural institutions have a public responsibility not to provide a platform for claims that harm soldiers and the state, especially while soldiers are defending Israeli citizens. He concluded that freedom of creation does not obligate providing a platform for lies intended to damage Israel's reputation internationally.
