More than a hundred members of the American entertainment industry showed up Wednesday night (Wednesday-Thursday) for a screening of the "video of horrors" they produced at the IDF Spokesperson's Office, which took place at the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.
The event was initiated by Oscar-winning Israeli-American director Guy Nativ and Gal Gadot, who worked together to bring Hollywood officials to see up close the massacres of Hamas as part of an international propaganda campaign led by Israel. Among those in attendance were screenwriters, producers and creatives working across the United States. Also present at the event were Yaron Varsano, Gadot's husband, and Yinon Kreis, the Israeli CEO of toy manufacturer Mattel.
Look at the horrors. Kibbutz Be'eri after the massacre, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Outside the event, lone pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered with a Palestinian flag and dozens of supporters of Israel with Israeli flags in front of them. The event was heavily guarded by the local police for fear of riots and clashes between the demonstrators, and only guests of the screening were allowed to enter the museum compound. Before entering the museum, guests were required to deposit their mobile phones and sign a "letter of consent" to watch the film. During the screening of the film, megaphone sounds were heard from demonstrators outside calling for the release of the Israeli hostages.
The event was opened by Rabbi Marvin Hare, the museum's founder, who said, "We must watch the film out of obligation to the families of Hamas terror victims. It is imperative to remember and not forget what was done to them and to help our brothers and sisters in Israel in every way. We must tell the world that the people of Israel are alive despite the attempts of the terrorist organizations to annihilate us. The Jewish people will continue to grow and flourish, while they [the terrorist organizations and Iran] will become the dust of history."
Also present at the event was Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, who initiated a similar screening for the international community and leading media systems in the United States. Erdan told the participants that the film "will change the way you see the Middle East and the way you see the war in Gaza." The ambassador added, "Israel is at war for its future. What you're going to see is brutality you've never seen before. Hamas must be destroyed, just like ISIS and al-Qaeda, to prevent another massacre. Hamas may be in the Middle East, but it's not just Israel's problem. We must understand that Hamas and all jihadi organizations are at war against all democratic values. If Israel does not eliminate Satan, the West will be next. Don't forget that."
Members of Knesset after viewing the film, archive, photo: Yoav Dudkiewicz/TPS
"Today we must not only defend ourselves, but also defend the truth. Just as Holocaust deniers tried to distort history, today there are those who try to distort Hamas' actions, while Hamas terrorists documented their own actions. Attempts to distort the truth are part of a campaign to spread hatred against Jews, and that's why you're here today to be a living witness to the truth," explained Sarah Scheffler, one of the organizers of the event.
Sima Katzir, an Israeli who lives in Los Angeles and attended the demonstration outside the museum, told Israel Hayom that when she heard about the show of support, it was clear to her that she would come with a sign belonging to one of the abductees. "It's the least I can do. My son lives in Israel and I'm here, and it's very hard for me."
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