‘NAZA’ co-director calls out US for ‘funding’ Israel’s ‘mass killing of Palestinian civilians’ in Gaza: ‘This is what your country is supporting’

The documentary NAZA recently made its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival and was met with a massive standing ovation. Co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor participated in a brief Q&A session with festival director Dennis Lim following the screening.

During this discussion, Abraham emphasized the necessity of showing the film to American audiences, as reported by Variety. He argued that it is essential to highlight the role of the United States in providing billions in funding and military aid to the Israeli government, which he contends is being used against the Palestinian people.

Abraham spoke directly to the audience, noting that viewers were witnessing the destruction of Gaza through the footage captured in the film. He stated, “It’s important for us to see this film at this moment, as you were saying, because these older officials are talking about what is being done with taxpayer money from people sitting here.” He continued by saying, “This is what your country is supporting and funding… Part of the goal is to make denial of what’s going on in Gaza harder.”

The audience responded to these comments with cheers of approval

The film has generated significant international attention since its initial debut at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month. It earned a special jury prize at that event and received a record-breaking 24.5-minute standing ovation.

The documentary was filmed at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv. It aims to show “in detail the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.” Plans are currently in place for the film to reach more than 50 territories globally, and it will eventually be available for free streaming on The Guardian website.

The production has faced intense backlash from various Israeli officials since its premiere. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the introduction of a law that would “revoke the citizenship of anyone who slanders IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] soldiers” in response to the film. Furthermore, the Israeli Minister of Culture has threatened to strip the filmmakers of their Israeli citizenship.

Protests also occurred outside the New York screening. The Israeli-American Council organized a gathering of more than 50 people to demonstrate against the film. The group described the documentary as “anti-Israel” and claimed that it “makes serious allegations about the IDF’s conduct in the Gaza Strip while ignoring findings and information that contradict its claims.” Protesters displayed LED trucks that projected footage from October 7 alongside portraits of individuals killed on that day.

Abraham addressed the events of October 7 during the Q&A session to provide context for his position. He said, “It’s completely unjustified, the massacre of October 7th.” He then questioned the scope of the subsequent military response by adding, “But it also cannot justify what you’ve seen. Does it justify the slaughter of so many civilians in Gaza?”