Israel Warned of 'No Other Land' Film, Responded Late With Failed Sanctions

The Netanyahu government was alerted about the documentary "No Other Land" approximately one month before its screening at the Venice Film Festival but failed to prepare an adequate response. Israel's embassy in Rome had warned the Foreign Ministry, yet neither the ministry nor the National Public Diplomacy Directorate managed to obtain a copy of the film, even after its win at Venice. Messaging efforts only began after the screening, by which time significant damage had already been done. The film has since been distributed in over 50 countries, topped the box office in Italy, and is set to be released online for free in late November. Israeli journalists and the IDF Spokesperson's Unit contributed to fact-checking the film's claims. In response, the government pursued ineffective sanctions. Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar announced intentions to revoke the creators' citizenship and threatened to cut funding, actions beyond his authority. Prime Minister Netanyahu also directed efforts to advance legislation related to the film's content. These reactions, rather than refuting the film, drew international attention to Israel's response, shifting the debate from the film's veracity to freedom of expression.

During the month between the warning and the Venice premiere, Israel attempted to block the film rather than prepare a counter-narrative. The Israeli embassy in Rome's efforts, along with those of friends and lawyers, to prevent or mitigate the film's impact were rejected by the festival. The film's directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore, are known for their previous Oscar-winning work. Despite requests, the Foreign Ministry and the National Public Diplomacy Directorate did not secure a copy or transcript of the film, nor was one provided to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit even after the screening. However, the article argues that a copy was not essential, as the film relied on reports published between 2023 and 2025, including claims about the IDF's "Lavender" system, which the IDF itself addressed in its response. Instead of proactive preparation, a message sheet for diplomats was distributed on September 14, two days after the Venice win. On September 16, Doron Spielman of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate stated that the directorate was still without a copy and had only begun formulating messages after the Venice screening.

This failure is presented as part of a pattern, with the National Public Diplomacy Directorate operating without a director for nearly two years until Tzipi Hotovely's appointment was approved in April 2026. The Ministry of Public Diplomacy, established in early 2023, was dissolved in October 2023, with overseas public diplomacy responsibilities transferred to the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Foreign Ministry. This occurred amidst the ongoing war, leaving the public diplomacy arena neglected. Past state comptroller reports from 2002, 2007, and 2010 highlighted similar public diplomacy failures, with some issues remaining unaddressed even by 2010. Despite Prime Minister Netanyahu's 2012 acceptance of the comptroller's recommendation to examine a national emergency plan for public diplomacy, the current government's response to "No Other Land" mirrors these historical shortcomings.

The film has already caused significant damage to Israel's image, achieving box office success in Italy and selling out screenings in New York. Hamas has called for the International Criminal Court to adopt its evidence. Journalist Neria Kraus noted that the film challenges the legitimacy of the Zionist enterprise from its inception and that its US release was timed before the anniversary of October 7. The film's free online release on The Guardian's website in late November is expected to further amplify its impact. Despite the National Public Diplomacy Directorate's stated condition for response, that the film gains traction, this threshold has already been met.

Journalistic investigations by "Zman Israel" have exposed the film's journalistic flaws, including a lack of independent verification of testimonies, failure to allow the IDF to respond before publication, and misrepresentation of statements through added text in subtitles. For instance, the claim that the IDF anticipated 500 civilian casualties in a single strike is based on a single, uncorroborated interviewee. "Haaretz" reported on the IDF's 17-page response on October 1, which refuted the film's central allegations. The IDF stated that interviewees often referred only to initial intelligence phases, not the full attack planning and approval process. The article criticizes the film for lacking context regarding October 7 and Hamas's operations within civilian areas, deeming it a distorted and manipulative portrayal.

Minister Miki Zohar's attempts to revoke creators' citizenship and cut funding were legally unfounded. Israeli law requires judicial review for citizenship revocation, and there is no precedent for revoking citizenship over artistic expression. Similarly, the Ministry of Culture's legal counsel previously stated the ministry lacks the authority to withhold funding based on content. Zohar's threats, however, garnered international media attention, including from The New York Times, which highlighted his call for citizenship review. The Guardian expressed concern over Israel's "repressive response," and over a thousand Israeli filmmakers signed a petition supporting the creators. This response shifted the public discourse from the film's content to the issue of free speech. Philosopher Raphael Anthuvan criticized Zohar, arguing that refuting the film's facts is the appropriate response, not attempting to expel creators from the national community. The sanctions also failed to block the film, which was produced by The Guardian and received no Israeli funding. Instead, Israeli cinemas and cinematheques faced pressure from Zohar not to screen the film.