We, the undersigned citizens of India stand utterly shocked and dismayed at the fact that as per its Instagram post, as well as the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) Twitter handle, the NFDC is organising a Film Festival to showcase Israeli films, and is to be held in Mumbai, on the 21st-22nd of August. 

This screening by the NFDC is shamefully being held at a time, when the entire world is witness to Israeli war crimes, the ongoing Holocaust and the genocide in Gaza, and across all of Palestine. The genocide is occurring live, in real time, and the entire world is witness to this inhuman criminal monstrosity, as we watch aghast on our mobiles and TV screens. 

According to the report of LANCET, a world renowned research journal, the Israeli regime has murdered 1,86,000 Palestinians, of which, 70% are children and women. Now the figure has possibly crossed the 2,00,000 mark. Thus the Israel Nazi regime has murdered more than 8% of the Gazan population of 23,00,000, which clearly constitutes a Holocaust, no less. (Lancet, 5 July 2024, "Counting the Dead in Gaza - Difficult but Essential" - Lancet link). 

There are also documented reports of Israeli prison-concentration camps where Palestinian prisoners are being tortured and raped. Israel has murdered artists, writers, doctors, teachers, professors, journalists, health-workers, basically indulging in a planned genocide of Palestinian society. The Israeli regime is also resorting to starvation as a weapon, denying food, water and medicines. Israel is clearly committed to the mass murder and ethnic cleansing of the entire Palestinian population. Israel is also guilty of destroying the entire civilian infrastructure, which include residential buildings, schools, universities, hospitals, health clinics, electricity and water supply. UN world court calls for prevention of genocidal acts in Gaza. 

All this clearly constitutes a war crime under international law, namely, "The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 1948".

It is for the above reasons that the Israeli regime is being compared to the Hitler's Nazi regime in the Germany of the 1930's and 1940's, and rightly so.

The evidence of the Israeli war crimes have been documented and presented by a distinguished panel of South African Human Rights Lawyers, at the International Criminal Court of Justice. In both instances the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) have recognised the fact that Israel is guilty of genocide. Thus the ICC has announced that it will issue an arrest warrant against PM Netanyahu, who must stand trial for war crimes.

The UN Human Rights Commission too arrived at the damning conclusion that, "Israel is responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, extermination, intentionally attacking civilians, using starvation as a method of war, sexual and gender-based violence".

The world over, massive protests are being organised against the Israeli genocide being perpetrated in Gaza. Millions across the world have taken to the streets in practically every nation, in every city across the world, calling for the Boycott of Apartheid Israel. That even as the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement gathers worldwide momentum. Thus from Artists, to Students, from Trade Unions to Farmers organisations and a myriad of Civil Society Organisations across the world are calling out Israel for its war crimes. The overwhelming majority of the world is calling for a ceasefire, an end to the war, and towards a negotiated peaceful settlement in accordance with UN Resolutions and International Laws. But Israel is not ready to heed or accept any path that leads to peace. 

The management of the NFDC & the NMIC should be aware of the fact that the Government of India has consistently voted for a ceasefire, as well has recognised the Palestinian state, as have the overwhelming majority of the nations. Thus, at this moment in our collective human history, for the NFDC and the NMIC to be screening Israeli films is totally immoral, unethical, unconscionable, and a travesty of justice to say the least. 

In keeping with the Indian tradition of supporting anti-colonial liberation struggles, we, as a nation, have always stood with Palestine, and here too the NFDC & the NMIC stand in utter violation of the very spirit of India, the India of Buddha & Gandhi. 

We, the undersigned, have thus launched a nationwide, as well as an international campaign demanding that the NFDC and the NMIC refrain from any screening of Israeli films, until Israel complies with International law, as do other civilised nations. 

Thus, in the presence of such damning evidence, the NFDC must immediately cancel the so-called Israel Film Festival.  Signed by:

Dr. G.G. Parekh, Veteran Freedom Fighter

Anand Patwardhan, Film Maker

Naseeruddin Shah, Actor

Ratna Pathak, Actor 

Javed Anand, Senior Journalist

Tushar Gandhi, Author & Peace Activist

Feroze Mithiborwala, India Palestine Solidarity Forum

Prakash Reddy

Prof. Ram Puniyani

Dr. Sunilam

M J Vijayan, South Asian Solidarity Collective & ‘Indians for Palestine’

Dr. Suresh Khairnar

Sandeep Pandey

Shabnam Hashmi, Social Activist, ANHAD

Adv. Mihir Desai

Irfan Engineer

Prof. Anuradha Chenoy

Prof. Achin Vanaik

Charul Joshi

Adv. Lara Jesani, PUCL, Maharashtra

Binu Matthew, Editor - Counter Currents

Shujaat Ali Quadri, India Palestine Solidarity Forum & Indian Muslim Students Organization

Guddi S L 

Neeraj Jain

Hasina Khan