A screening of the documentary 'Planet Israel: A Cautionary Tale' took place in London's Soho district on the eve of Nakba Day, which commemorates the forced displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians in 1948. The film examines how trauma, nationalism, and militarization have shaped Israeli society after October 7, 2023, and during the Gaza genocide.

Director Gillian Mosely, a British-American Jewish filmmaker, told Al Jazeera that British Jews are being treated as a monolith, fueling anti-Semitism. According to a poll by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, 40% of British Jews said Israel's actions in Gaza weakened their attachment to the country, and only 12% approved of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The documentary features interviews with historians, experts, and ordinary Israelis. Historian Avi Shlaim, an Israeli featured in the film, stated that Israel's conduct in Gaza has made it a 'pariah and a war criminal state,' creating a crisis between Israel and world Jewry. He noted that more Jewish groups are openly opposing Israel.

Mosely, who once believed in Zionism, said the film is about how a narrative of victimhood becomes politically weaponized. She criticized the infiltration of 'Greater Israel' ideology into Israeli education, military, and media systems. Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos, 88, who attended the screening, emphasized the need to show the devastation in Gaza, stating that his own experiences do not excuse what is happening.

The film also touches on the material consequences for Palestinians: occupation, displacement, siege, and military violence. Mosely refrained from speaking for Palestinians, acknowledging their trauma is 'colossal.' She hopes the film can influence politicians, who she believes have not yet caught up with the shift in public opinion caused by the Gaza war.

Source: www.aljazeera.com