Screening of Gaza documentary disrupted in Delft
A visitor interrupted the screening of NAZA, according to several reports; the film house has not responded.
A French-Israeli visitor reportedly interrupted a screening of the documentary NAZA in Delft on Thursday. She wanted to draw attention to her personal loss during the attack of 7 October 2023.
The visitor addressed the filmmakers and audience during the screening. According to reports by NL24 and Israeli media, she said that her husband and son had been killed in the attack. The precise sequence of events and the audience’s reactions have not been independently established.
NAZA was made by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, two of the directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. The film examines decision-making around Israeli bombardments of Gaza and includes interviews with Israeli soldiers.
The filmmakers had previously asked cinemas not to screen the film on 6, 7 and 8 October, as they feared unsafe situations surrounding commemorations of the 7 October attack. Distributor Cherry Pickers adopted the appeal and advised Dutch film houses to cancel screenings on those days.
According to the available reports, the screening in Delft took place before those commemorative dates. At the time of publication, Filmhuis Lumen and the distributor could not be reached for independent confirmation of the incident, the precise programming or any security measures.
The event highlights the tensions surrounding films about the war in Gaza. Cinemas must provide space for screenings and debate, but also bear responsibility for a safe environment. No reliable public information is yet available on whether the screening was definitively halted or how the organisation responded.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- NAZA is a documentary about the war in Gaza.
- The filmmakers asked for screenings not to take place on 6, 7 and 8 October.
- An incident in Delft has been reported by several media outlets, but has not been confirmed by the film house.
Left
Arguments A cinema should also be able to screen uncomfortable and critical films about state power and war. Personal pain deserves recognition, but should not determine which documentaries the public may see.
Values Freedom of art, human rights and critical journalism.
Consequences Open screening can enable debate, but requires proper guidance and protection against intimidation.
Centre
Arguments Programming and commemorations can coexist if organisers establish clear security arrangements and provide space for discussion. A temporary change can be proportionate when risks are concrete.
Values Freedom of expression, safety and care.
Consequences Clear communication can prevent escalation, but a unilateral cancellation can instead increase distrust.
Right
Arguments A film house should not expose visitors to disruption or political pressure. The personal experiences of victims deserve respect, and a screening that critics consider one-sided need not automatically be given priority.
Values Public order, national security and respect for victims.
Consequences Limited programming around sensitive dates can bring calm, but may also be seen as yielding to pressure.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The film, its makers and the earlier call to cancel screenings around 7 October are well documented. The incident itself remains dependent on media reports for now because confirmation from the venue is lacking.
- uncertain A visitor interrupted a screening of NAZA in Delft. — Reported by NL24 and foreign media, but not confirmed by the film house. source
- confirmed Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor made NAZA. — The film’s screening information lists both directors. source
- confirmed The filmmakers advised avoiding screenings on 6, 7 and 8 October. — NOS Nieuwsuur described the appeal and the advice from distributor Cherry Pickers. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: The screening was disrupted.Now: The screening was reportedly interrupted, according to several reports. (The venue has not independently confirmed the incident.)
Editor's note
The interruption has been reported by several media outlets, but confirmation from Filmhuis Lumen is lacking. Details about reactions from the audience have therefore not been presented as established fact.Sources
- Overlevende 7 oktober uitgejouwd bij NAZA-film in Delft — NL24
- Naza — Slieker Film
- Makers Gaza-docu roepen op: vertoon onze film niet op 7 oktober — NOS Nieuwsuur
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „naza delft”
- De Telegraaf — „naza delft”
- AD — „naza delft”