NYC Rally Erupts: Protesters Counter Controversial 'NAZA' Film with October 7 Footage

Dozens of Israeli and Jewish American protesters gathered overnight on Sunday in front of the Lincoln Center in New York City, staging a rally against the screening of the controversial documentary film NAZA. Organized by the Israeli-American Council (IAC), the demonstration aimed to challenge the narrative presented in the film, which was recently screened as part of the 64th New York Film Festival.

Screens Display Contradictory Evidence

During the rally, LED screens mounted on trucks displayed raw, graphic footage from October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre. This documentation includes video filmed by Hamas terrorists during the attacks, serving as a stark counterpoint to the claims made in NAZA. Alongside this harrowing footage, the screens presented documented material that questions the sources, methodology, and production of the disputed film.

"Films have editors. History does not," the IAC stated in their campaign message. "Our presence here is the message: We will not allow October 7 to be erased from the story."

Prominent Figures and Survivors Attend

The event drew members of the Israeli-American and Jewish communities from New York and New Jersey, many carrying protest signs and wearing promotional shirts. Notable attendees included:

• Nova festival survivors Rom El-Hai and Shelev Biton.
• Younes Al-Garnaoui, an Israeli-Bedouin hero who saved dozens of people, including Nova survivors, during the October 7 attacks.

Ofir Akunis, the Consul General of Israel in New York, condemned the filmmakers, stating, "We will not let lies and blood libels prevail. The filmmakers are shameful individuals. We will not stand by and pass over their incitement against our heroic soldiers and the State of Israel in silence!"

IDF Denies Claims Made in Film

Protest organizers argued that NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra, presents the war while ignoring context and contradictory information regarding the Hamas attack on October 7. The film features testimonies from 24 soldiers and intelligence personnel about combat mechanics in Gaza.

In response to specific allegations within the film, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit issued a strong denial, labeling the claims a "complete lie." They asserted that the IDF has never planned or carried out strikes expecting to kill 500 civilians, noting that no credible evidence supports such figures. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir held consultations on the matter, insisting the film is a deliberate attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the IDF and the State of Israel. The military emphasized its adherence to international law and efforts to minimize civilian casualties.