The announcement of the award given to the documentary NAZA made me reflect. But ultimately, perhaps it is not the award itself that raises the most questions. It is the twenty-five minutes of applause that followed the screening.

At that point, are we still simply applauding a film? Or are we also applauding what it represents?

This question matters because the war in Gaza has increasingly become more than a military and political conflict. It has also become a moral dividing line, particularly in parts of the Western cultural world.

Let us be clear. One can criticize the way Israel has conducted the war in Gaza. One can question certain strikes, the very high number of civilian casualties or the rules of engagement of the Israeli army. One can demand investigations into particular decisions and, if violations or serious mistakes are established, ask that those responsible be held accountable.

All of this is legitimate.

But there is an important difference between saying that mistakes or violations may have been committed and claiming that an army deliberately organized the destruction of a population.

That difference is called proof.

NAZA relies in particular on testimonies from Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel. These testimonies deserve to be heard and taken seriously. They may raise disturbing questions and........

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