Nova Festival Filmmakers Accused of Inciting Against IDF in US

Filmmakers Rachel Shorr and Yuval Avraham, creators of the documentary "Nova," have brought their campaign against Israel to the United States, attempting to sway American public opinion. Following a screening at the New York Film Festival on Saturday, they addressed the audience, suggesting that Washington is responsible for the events in Gaza and that U.S. taxpayer money funds Israeli actions.

Avraham directly appealed to the American attendees, stating, "It is important for us to see this film at this moment, because these senior officials are talking about what is done with the tax money of the people sitting here." He added, "This is what your country supports and funds," and claimed that "part of the goal is to make it difficult to deny what is happening in Gaza."

When questioned about Hamas's role, Avraham deflected, saying, "The massacre of October 7 is completely unjustified, but it also cannot justify what you have seen. Does it justify the killing of so many civilians in Gaza?"

Outside the screening, dozens of pro-Israel demonstrators organized by the Israeli-American Council (IAC) protested. They displayed footage from the October 7th Hamas attacks, including the Nova music festival massacre, and urged attendees not to ignore the atrocities. Noa Peri-Yansh, a senior IAC official, stated, "Compassion for Palestinian civilians does not require erasing October 7 or ignoring Hamas."

Among the protestors was Rom El-Hai, a survivor of the Nova festival attack, who presented footage he filmed during the massacre. He expressed that it was unsurprising for the festival to screen a film by individuals he called "traitors" to the Israeli cause.