Documentary 'Nezah' Sparks Protests in NYC, Wins Award in Spain

The documentary film "Nezah," which examines the Israeli military's policy in Gaza and alleges intentional mistreatment of the civilian population, faced protests during its screening at the prestigious New York Film Festival. The Israeli Consulate in New York and local activists organized a demonstration outside Lincoln Center, where the sold-out screening took place. Approximately thirty protesters, primarily Israeli expatriates, gathered with Israeli and American flags, holding signs that read "Am Yisrael Chai" (The People of Israel Live).

During the protest, speakers from the Israeli American Council (IAC) and a Nova massacre survivor addressed the crowd. Israeli consulate-provided trucks displayed images of October 7th victims with the slogan "Context is not censorship. It's responsibility." While most speakers focused on the need for creators to provide context, particularly referencing the October 7th attacks as a catalyst for Israel's actions in Gaza, one speaker controversially labeled the filmmakers as anti-Semitic.

The film "Nezah," by directors Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shore, features interviews with 24 unnamed Israeli intelligence soldiers and combatants who describe a policy shift regarding the killing of innocent civilians, viewed as acceptable collateral damage, allegedly facilitated by artificial intelligence. The interviewees express understanding for the use of such technology in identifying targets, driven by anger and a desire for revenge following the October 7th massacre, and a perception that "no innocents in Gaza" justifies a disregard for human life.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain, "Nezah" received the Audience Award. Spanish producer Enrique Costa accepted the award on behalf of Avraham and Shore, holding signs that read "We are also Nezah" alongside many audience members who displayed similar signs and Palestinian flags. Costa conveyed the filmmakers' gratitude for the warm reception and their hope that the film will continue to raise awareness about the issues it presents and the Israeli government's actions in Gaza.

In a separate event at the same Spanish festival, Mike Leigh's film "Tender Loving Care" won the top prize but will not be screened in Israel due to the British director's boycott of the country over its government's policies.