Dozens of far-right activists held a protest Wednesday evening outside the home of Rachel Tzur’s parents in Savyon, Israel.
The demonstrators used slogans including "death penalty for traitors." The protesters accused Tzur and co-director Yuval Abraham of portraying Israeli soldiers to the international public as "killers."
Protesters linked to Ben-Gvir’s party
A significant portion of the organizers and participants were activists and campaign workers linked to the Jewish Power Party, led by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Some messages circulated on social media before the protest openly called for violence.
Documentary on the government’s agenda
The protest took place shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would advance two bills targeting people he accused of defaming Israeli soldiers. Netanyahu’s remarks also referred to the documentary ‘Naza’.
Israeli military official Eyal Zamir asked the military prosecutor on Monday to examine possible legal action against the filmmakers. Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar also asked Shin Bet chief David Zini on Wednesday to launch an urgent investigation into the documentary.
Film wins award in Venice
‘Naza’, directed by Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Tzur, won the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Saturday.
The documentary features testimonies from Israeli soldiers and officers who served in Gaza. The testimonies describe actions including the burning of residential areas used as shelters and the killing of people during food distribution.
According to the filmmakers, "Naza" is an abbreviation used by Israeli military intelligence to refer to the number of civilians expected to be killed in an airstrike.
