Counter-Film on Gaza War Premieres in US

A new film, "NAZA: The True Story," premiered in the United States on Monday at the Kehilat Yeshurun synagogue in Manhattan. The film was produced by the Israeli-American Council (IAC) in response to "NAZA," a film that allegedly equates Israel and the IDF with the Nazi regime. The IAC aims to present the Israeli perspective on the Gaza war to the American public ahead of "NAZA's" wider release in early November.

The new documentary features testimonies from IDF reserve soldiers and raw footage from Gaza, which its creators say demonstrates Hamas operating from civilian areas and endangering residents, while the IDF takes measures to minimize civilian casualties. Following the screening, a discussion was held with the film's producers, reserve lieutenant colonel Roey Danino and reserve major Ariel Avurbach, moderated by Jewish-American influencer Lizzy Sabetzky.

Avurbach, who watched the original "NAZA" film, expressed concern about its potential impact on viewers unfamiliar with the reality in Israel. He stated, "If I didn't know the truth, I would have left this screening 100 percent convinced that Jews, Israelis, and the IDF are Nazis in the fullest sense of the word." He warned that "NAZA" is expected to reach tens of millions of viewers upon its release and that "NAZA: The True Story" is a crucial tool to counter the anticipated "tsunami of blood libels."

Sabetzky also criticized the original film, describing it as "venomous propaganda" and false claims. She noted that many viewers in the audience agreed with the film's narrative, as if they were watching a different war and a different army. The IAC's efforts against "NAZA" began with a protest at Lincoln Center during the original film's North American premiere, featuring trucks with LED screens displaying footage from the October 7th attack and refuting the film's claims.

The IAC emphasizes that its goal is not to prevent screenings of "NAZA," but to ensure audiences are exposed to the context and evidence, including from the October 7th attack, which they claim is omitted from the original film. Noa Peri Genish, Deputy Director of Communities at IAC, compared the accusations against Israel to historical antisemitic blood libels, warning that lies spread rapidly in the social media era and "NAZA's" demonization of Israel echoes this pattern.

The IAC, founded in 2007, operates in 100 communities and 58 campuses across the US, engaging over 150,000 Israeli-Americans. Since October 7th, its activities have expanded to include combating antisemitism, advocating for the hostages' return, and strengthening pro-Israel collaborations.