A solidarity statement concerning the NAZA documentary directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor said that 1,000 people from Israel’s film industry had expressed support for the two directors. The filmmakers who signed the statement condemned the incitement and threats targeting the directors and defended freedom of expression and artistic freedom.
The statement urged Israelis to watch the documentary before reaching a judgment about the allegations concerning NAZA. It also called for support and solidarity with the film’s creators.
Campaign against directors criticized
The statement argued that the alleged smear and incitement campaign against Abraham and Szor had reached a point that would legitimize violence, and said the directors’ lives were under physical threat.
It also criticized filmmakers, academics and journalists who had condemned the film without watching it. The statement said art and journalism should reflect the difficult realities facing society and create an environment for debate.
Accounts concerning Gaza in the documentary
The NAZA documentary refers to an acronym said to be used for civilians whom the Israeli army intends to kill in an attack. The documentary was filmed secretly over three years on rooftops in Tel Aviv, with the identities, voices and images of participants digitally altered to protect their safety.
Participants interviewed in the production described alleged surveillance systems, long-range bombardment methods and covert practices used by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to their accounts, artificial intelligence is used to identify potential Hamas targets, and homes known to contain families can also be bombed.
The documentary also includes accounts alleging that residential areas used by civilians as shelters in Gaza were deliberately burned and that people were killed during food distribution. Some people featured in the production were alleged to have previously served in secret intelligence units and to have reported directly to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Threat to revoke citizenship
The statement argued that some Israeli filmmakers and writers’ support for populist politicians’ stance toward the directors had paved the way for Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar’s threats that Szor and Abraham could have their citizenship revoked.
