NAZA hit U.S. Theaters Friday — and with it, a storm of protest outside Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood. Israeli-Americans and members of the Jewish community gathered before the screening, waving flags, holding signs that read “Learn the Facts. Know the Truth,” and displaying images from the Oct. 7 attack. The film, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, is a documentary examining the systems behind the mass killing of Palestinian civilians. It’s also the reason why the IAC (Israeli-American Council) has now made its presence felt at every major premiere: New York, Venice, and now Los Angeles. 

At Venice, NAZA won the Special Jury Prize. In New York, it drew a crowd of survivors, including Rom El-Hai and Shalev Biton, who spoke out against what they called a one-sided narrative. Now, in LA, the message was sharper: show the other side. 

“We’re not saying don’t show the film,” said IAC co-chair Tal Shuster. “We’re saying: if you screen it, invite a survivor. Let them speak. Don’t just show one side.” 

The protesters weren’t just calling for balance. They were demanding context. The film’s creators have stated they made it “out of a sense of obligation” to confront Israel’s role in civilian casualties. That framing, to some, feels like omission. To others, it’s necessary truth. 

And so the debate continues, not in a quiet theater, but on the sidewalk, where flags are raised and facts are contested. The next screening? Still weeks away. But the conversation isn’t waiting.