A small group of protesters braved the Big Apple’s frigid nor’easter on Saturday to oppose the North American premiere of a controversial Gaza War documentary at the New York Film Festival, accusing the film of promoting an anti-Israel narrative.
Peaceful demonstrators holding Israeli flags and placards gathered outside Lincoln Center in Columbus Circle as “NAZA” made its New York debut. Supporters of Israel have criticized the documentary for relying on anonymous sources to make allegations about the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct toward Palestinians.
“History cannot be altered,” Noa Peri-Jensch of the Israeli-American Council told The Post. “There are parts of history that happened on October 7th that have been ignored in the film.”
“The movie is trying to portray the IDF or Israel as a group of people who are trying to carry out systematic killing, which couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Peri-Jensch called on documentary filmmakers to approach their work responsibly.
“We need to bring all voices. We need to show the truth, and not spread lies,” she said.
The documentary was made by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor in collaboration with The Guardian. It alleges that the Israeli military used a code to determine how many civilians could die in airstrikes, including the term “NAZA,” and cites an anonymous source who described killing Palestinians with artificial intelligence as “insanely fun.”
The film has received international praise, including a 24-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, where it premiered. The Guardian says “NAZA” includes interviews with 24 Israeli intelligence and military personnel who agreed to speak only on the condition of anonymity. That approach has prompted Israeli government figures to condemn the documentary’s claims as lies.
Shalev Biton, 27, a survivor of the horrific attack at the Nova Festival, said he believes “NAZA” is misleading and divisive.
“I am here to show that this thing happened to both sides. I was affected,” Biton told The Post during the protest.
“I am not against criticism of us as a state, as Israel, or against the idea of criticism from inside Israel or outside Israel. But there is a way to do it.”
Four trucks circled the area in opposition to the documentary, screening graphic footage of the slaughter during the Oct. 7 attack. The displays also presented material challenging “NAZA’s” claims, sources, methods and production.
Organized by the Israeli-American Council, the trucks showed excerpts from “October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre,” a graphic compilation of raw footage from the devastating attack in Israel, including videos recorded by Hamas during the massacre.
Biton became emotional when one of the trucks stopped in front of him and displayed footage of “people who I know” who “died at the Nova Festival.”
“It’s never easy to see the footage, but in this context, people should see it,” Biton said.
David Cohen, a 55-year-old New York resident, also issued a message to the documentary’s creators.
“Show the film, no problem, but understand the circumstances,” Cohen said.
“It’s a horrible situation, but what we stand for is important,” he added. “We’re supporting Israel.”
The Guardian and the filmmakers have defended “NAZA,” saying the sources were thoroughly vetted and that using anonymous testimony is consistent with established practices in mainstream investigative journalism.
