She’s Not a Child
I just finished an awkward, self-imposed 25-minute standing ovation in my living room after the final episode of Season 5 of Fauda. I figured their fictional series based on the real-life events of October 7 deserved the same standing ovation the creators of the documentary NAZA received at the Venice Film Festival for their “fictional documentary” based on the real-life events of the war in Gaza! Although, to most, NAZA will be accepted not as fiction; but rather, as proof that Israel deliberately targeted civilians in Gaza with the intent to kill as many as possible, while the all-too-real episodes of Fauda telling the horrors of October 7 will be brushed aside as pure fiction written by Israel propogandists.
As we approach the third anniversary of October 7, I am sadly resigned to the belief – which I did not have before – that the disease of antisemitism is so engrained in society that people can’t or refuse to see what’s right in front of their eyes. It is astounding how the enemies of Israel so easily use the most awful, egregious terms (genocide, apartheid, colonizer, terrorist-state) against a people and a country without a bit of objective evidence or support while at the same time dismissing scientific, forensic, video, and eye-witness testimony of Israelis as nothing more than propaganda. The hypocrisy and double standards are apparent to anyone willing to see. But then politicians and influential celebrities use these terms not even as accusations, but proven fact, and then act surprised and distance themselves from the consequences as antisemitic attacks rise.
While watching Episode 8 of Fauda, which was the second of two flashback episodes to the events of October 7, one brief encounter immediately jumped out to me. Paraphrasing – and without giving away any other details – the script went like this:
Israeli mother: NO! She’s just a child.
Hamas terrorist: She’s 17. She’s not a child.
“Hmmmm, how ironic?” I thought. When the “Gaza Ministry of Health” would cite their inflated, now debunked, numbers of those killed by Israel, they would be sure to highlight the number of “children” killed – which included anyone under the age of 18. These inflated numbers formed the basis of the “baby killer” slurs and accusations of genocide pinned on the IDF, and then Jews worldwide. Doesn’t matter if it was a 16- or 17-year-old holding a rifle or shooting a rocket, that person was a “child.” But a 17-year-old, Israeli girl about to be raped or killed? “She’s not a child.” Hypocrisy and double standards.
Of course, this dialogue from Fauda is fiction, written by Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff; but it is also quite possible that it IS NOT fiction, but true. Hamas happily and gleefully videoed their murderous rampage and it is completely possible that similar language was captured on film and intentionally used in the show. (Actually, I would like to ask them that question…Lior? Avi?)
Nevertheless, that line caught my attention and made me think.
It made me think of the information and public opinion war we have lost. Our enemy can craft a narrative, make any outrageous accusation they want, accuse Israel of the worst crimes against humanity and the world will eat it up. We know it, and they know it.
Which brings us to NAZA. NAZA will be cited for years to come as proof that Israel deliberately tried to kill as many Gazan civilians as possible despite the film being filled with “clearly obvious lies/distortions, lies by omission, and lies by lack of understanding” according to West Point’s Urban Warfare expert, John Spencer. Plenty of others, way smarter and more informed than I, have and will continue to dissect the film and disprove the false accusations it contains.
I was more intrigued by the 25-minute standing ovation it received. Those in attendance didn’t just enjoy the film or find it thought-provoking. It wasn’t an ovation of congratulations on winning an award. No. Their ovation was a thank you. “Thank you for creating and disseminating on the world stage the facts needed to support the conclusions we have already made!” You read that right – first came the conclusions and accusations, then “let’s find or make up facts and numbers to support our narrative.” Hypocrisy and double standards.
Critics of Israel will say it is looking for better, or special, treatment. No, it is not. It is asking to be treated equally and the same as all others. Let the laws of war, and concepts of proportionality, and civilian/combatant distinction, and legitimate military targets and so many others apply equally to Israel and Hamas, and Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and the Iranians alike. And let the standards of investigative journalism apply equally as well. But when the New York Times publishes a story that Israel trained dogs to rape Palestinian prisoners, and The Guardian co-produces this documentary with outrageous, unverifiable claims panned by the world’s experts in urban warfare, we know that that is not the case, and the hypocrisy and double standards sadly continue.
