Protests Erupt Outside 'Nezah' Film Premiere in New York Over Gaza War Depiction

Dozens of pro-Israel protesters gathered outside the North American premiere of the Israeli documentary "Nezah" at the New York Film Festival on Saturday, denouncing the film for its portrayal of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The protesters, organized by the Israeli-American Council (IAC), displayed footage from the October 7th Hamas attack on large screens and carried signs urging viewers to "learn the facts" and "know the truth." The IAC claims the film presents serious allegations about the IDF's conduct in Gaza without adequate context or counter-evidence, and without sufficiently acknowledging the October 7th massacre that triggered the war.

Inside Lincoln Center, following the screening, the film's creators, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore, defended their work. Abraham stated that the film aims to expose how Israeli tax money is used, concluding with the assertion that "our country is doing this and your country (the U.S.) supports and funds it." He also addressed criticism regarding the anonymization of 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel featured in the film, arguing that granting anonymity to sources is a historical practice in investigative journalism necessary for uncovering the truth, especially as "the crimes continue."

Abraham refuted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comparison of the film to "launching ballistic missiles" at Israel, calling it an attempt to criminalize journalism. He affirmed that the October 7th massacre is depicted in the film as "completely unjustified" but maintained that he cannot justify the depicted harm to Palestinian civilians. "I don't want to live in a world where empathy for Israeli victims is used as a weapon by leaders like Netanyahu," Abraham said.

The film "Nezah" is based on the testimonies of 24 individuals presented as Israeli soldiers, officers, and intelligence personnel, whose faces and voices are disguised. They describe their work during the war and make serious claims about targeting methods and civilian casualties. The identities of the interviewees and the specific incidents they describe are not verifiable within the film itself.

In Israel, the film has faced sharp criticism. The IDF rejected its claims, with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stating the military "will not allow its soldiers to be targeted through lies and blood libels." Culture Minister Miki Zohar requested the head of the Shin Bet security agency to investigate the film's source materials and interviewees' identities, even suggesting revoking Abraham and Shore's citizenship. "Nezah" received a special jury award at the Venice Film Festival and is set to be distributed in 56 territories worldwide, with The Guardian, its producer, making it available for free viewing.