Israeli American Council demonstrates at New York Film Festival premiere of NAZA
- The Israeli-American Council staged a demonstration outside the New York Film Festival premiere of the documentary NAZA.
- The action took place outside Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall.
- Organizers utilized mobile LED trucks to project graphic footage from the October 7 attack alongside portraits of individuals killed that day.
Demonstration Outside Lincoln Center
The Israeli-American Council staged a demonstration outside the New York Film Festival premiere of the documentary NAZA.
The action took place outside Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. More than 50 demonstrators gathered during the screening.
Tactics and Increased Security
Organizers utilized mobile LED trucks to project graphic footage from the October 7 attack alongside portraits of individuals killed that day. The demonstration also drew an increased security presence, with over a dozen police officers monitoring the venue.
According to the Israeli-American Council, the documentary presents allegations about military actions in Gaza while omitting findings that contradict its claims and failing to provide context regarding the October 7 attack.
Voices From the Protest
Noa Peri-Jensch, chief communities officer for the organization, outlined the motivation behind the demonstration.
We mourn every innocent life lost in this war, Israeli or Palestinian,
Peri-Jensch said. But compassion for Palestinian civilians does not require us to erase October 7, ignore Hamas or accept one narrative without questioning it.
Peri-Jensch introduced Rom El-Hai, a survivor of the attack on the Nova music festival, who addressed the crowd and shared his firsthand experience.
Karen Toledano, a demonstrator participating in solidarity with the Israeli-American Council, expressed her perspective on creative spaces. I feel like our voices have been stifled in spaces that have called themselves inclusive for many years,
Toledano said.
Festival Recognition and Upcoming Distribution
With footage shot at night on Tel Aviv rooftops, NAZA details military operations in Gaza and recently received a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The documentary is scheduled for release across more than 50 territories before a free streaming release on The Guardian website.
Broader Diplomatic Tensions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an address to the United Nations General Assembly that prompted a delegate walkout, while hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the United Nations building, resulting in approximately 100 arrests.