Protesters Rally Against Anti-Israel Documentary at NYC Film Festival

A group of protesters gathered outside Lincoln Center on Saturday, braving a nor'easter to demonstrate against the North American premiere of the documentary "NAZA" at the New York Film Festival. The film, which has drawn criticism from supporters of Israel, reportedly makes claims about the actions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, utilizing anonymous sources.

Demonstrators held Israeli flags and signs, expressing concerns that the documentary distorts historical events and unfairly portrays the IDF. "History cannot be altered," said Noa Peri-Jensch of the Israeli-American Council (IAC). "There are parts of history that happened on October 7th that have been ignored in the film." Peri-Jensch added, "The movie is trying to portray the IDF or Israel as a group of people who are trying to make systematic killing, which couldn't be further from the truth."

The documentary, created by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor in conjunction with The Guardian newspaper, includes claims that the Israeli military employed a code for civilian casualties in airstrikes, referred to as "NAZA." The film quotes an anonymous source who allegedly described killing Palestinians with AI as "insanely fun." These claims, supported by interviews with unnamed members of Israeli intelligence and military, have led to denunciation from members of the Israeli government.

Shalev Biton, a survivor of the October 7th attack at the Nova Festival, attended the protest to counter what he described as a misleading and divisive narrative. "I am here to show that this thing happened to both of the sides. I was affected," Biton told The Post. "I am not against any criticism on us as a state, as Israel, and against the idea from inside Israel or outside Israel. But there is a way to do it."

Organized by the IAC, four trucks circled the protest area, displaying footage of the October 7th attacks, including material that the organizers claim contradicts the claims made in "NAZA." The trucks showed clips from “October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre,” a compilation of raw footage from the attack. Biton became emotional watching footage of individuals he knew who died at the Nova Festival. "It’s never easy to see the footage but in this context, people should see that," he said.

Another protester, David Cohen, emphasized the importance of presenting a balanced view. "Show the film, no problem, but understand the circumstances," Cohen stated. "It’s a horrible situation but what we stand for is important. We're supporting Israel."

The filmmakers and The Guardian have defended the documentary, asserting that the sources were vetted and that the reporting aligns with standard journalistic practices. The film previously premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it reportedly received a 24-minute ovation.