The International Documentary Association is coming to the defense of NAZA filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

The nonprofit organization posted a letter to its website urging the Israeli government to stop what the IDA terms a “campaign of threats” against the directors, whose film is sharply critical of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians.

“IDA calls on the Israeli government to withdraw its threats against filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor,” the letter says. “We also call for an end to the public campaign of intimidation against them.”

The letter continues, “Since NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, senior Israeli officials have moved against its directors. The Culture Minister has accused them of treason and sought to revoke their citizenship. The Prime Minister has announced bills to revoke the citizenship of anyone who ‘slanders IDF soldiers’ and to raise defamation damages twentyfold.” (Read the full letter form the IDA below).

The documentary, which holds its North American premiere Saturday at the New York Film Festival, is based on the account of 24 Israeli military intelligence officers and soldiers, who were interviewed at the height of Israeli military operations in Gaza. The military personnel, whose identities are concealed to protect their anonymity, describe callous disregard for Palestinian civilian life as the Israel Defense Forces pursued Hamas targets in the occupied territory. Whistleblowers allege the IDF set acceptable totals of civilian Palestinian deaths in attacks targeting suspected Hamas militants, in one case authorizing the killing of up to 500 civilians in pursuit of one target.

The IDF, as Deadline has reported, has denied allegations in the film. The International Documentary Association writes, “The Israeli military disputes the film’s account, and it is entitled to do so. But as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Israel is bound by Article 19, under which restrictions on expression must be provided by law and be necessary and proportionate to a legitimate aim. Revoking citizenship, imposing punitive damages, or opening security investigations in response to a documentary does not meet that test. The UN Human Rights Committee recognizes the protection of journalistic sources as part of freedom of expression, and the filmmakers’ right not to disclose the identities of their sources must be upheld.”

The letter has gained more than 250 signatories so far, including from actors Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo, as well as many prominent figures in the documentary field including Oscar winners Laura Poitras, Rob Epstein, Dan Cogan, Alex Gibney, Roger Ross Williams, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Orlando von Einsiedel, Dan Lindsay, and Ezra Edelman, and Oscar nominees Geeta Gandbhir, Liz Garbus, Connie Field, Guy Davidi, Rémi Grellety, Kellen Quinn, Joe Berlinger, Kirstine Barfod, Laura Nix, Sam Bisbee, Alexander Nanau, Joslyn Barnes, Raoul Peck, Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering, Carl Deal, and Tia Lessin, as well as former Sundance Film Festival director Tabitha Jackson, filmmakers Kirsten Johnson, Susan Lacy, Robert Bahar, Alison Klayman, producer Ina Fichman, and many others.

The IDA’s letter includes several bullet-pointed items: “IDA calls on the Government of Israel to:

“We also call on everyone taking part in the public debate to reject the intimidation of the filmmakers and their families.”

Deadline has been alerted to a planned protest against NAZA outside Lincoln Center in New York City, where the film will screen on Saturday. According to organizers of the demonstration, they intend to “show documented footage from the October 7 massacre, alongside material challenging the film’s claims.” A nor’easter storm moving up the east coast may complicate any plans for an outdoor demonstration.

Here’s the IDA letter, from the organization’s executive director, Dominic Asmall Willsdon.

IDA calls on the Israeli government to withdraw its threats against filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. We also call for an end to the public campaign of intimidation against them.

Since NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, senior Israeli officials have moved against its directors. The Culture Minister has accused them of treason and sought to revoke their citizenship. The Prime Minister has announced bills to revoke the citizenship of anyone who “slanders IDF soldiers” and to raise defamation damages twentyfold.

This official rhetoric has been accompanied by a public campaign against the filmmakers. Graffiti branding them “traitors” has appeared, and protesters have gathered outside the home of Szor’s parents. Israeli filmmakers and human rights groups have warned that it could lead to violence. Disagreement with a film must not become a threat to the people who made it.

The Israeli military disputes the film’s account, and it is entitled to do so. But as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Israel is bound by Article 19, under which restrictions on expression must be provided by law and be necessary and proportionate to a legitimate aim. Revoking citizenship, imposing punitive damages, or opening security investigations in response to a documentary does not meet that test. The UN Human Rights Committee recognizes the protection of journalistic sources as part of freedom of expression, and the filmmakers’ right not to disclose the identities of their sources must be upheld.

The Israel Film Council has also proposed ending credit for international festival selection in public film funding and creating a dedicated funding track for films celebrating IDF soldiers.

Threats of this kind are a risk documentary makers face in the course of their work. More than 1,500 Israeli film professionals, 43 Israeli human rights organizations, and the directors of major international festivals have defended Abraham and Szor.

IDA calls on the Government of Israel to:

· withdraw the threats to revoke Abraham’s and Szor’s citizenship, and abandon the proposed legislation;
· respect the filmmakers’ journalistic right to refuse to disclose the identities of confidential sources
· reject changes to public film funding that penalize filmmakers for critical work or international recognition.

We also call on everyone taking part in the public debate to reject the intimidation of the filmmakers and their families.

We stand with Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. IDA is ready to support them through our Emergency Assistance Program, as we support other documentarians facing threats for their work