Last year, Zeteo partnered with the award-winning production company Basement Films to make our first documentary, which uncovered how much extremist views have become normalized in Israel, taking hold of society through viral – and shocking – social media posts from soldiers in Gaza showcasing an almost unwatchable dehumanization of Palestinians. We called it ‘Israel’s Reel Extremism’.

Now, we want to share it with you again, in case you missed it - or never got around to watching it.

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It’s not only worth a watch for its exclusive and almost unbelievable interviews, it is a film that must be seen for what it reveals – and it’s still one of our most-watched pieces of content ever. If you take a look above, you’ll see why.

In the film, we examine posts across TikTok and Instagram, some shared millions of times, that show soldiers humiliating bound Palestinians, ransacking their homes, joking as they detonate schools and whole districts, and laughing as they launch high-explosive ordnance into densely-packed areas. And then we speak to people behind those videos – from the soldiers themselves to Israeli political figures who have amplified them to everyday Israelis who’ve been radicalized watching them.

No one else in the mainstream media on either side of the Atlantic was willing to consider this story in 2024. But we did, and all thanks to your financial backing.

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To our paid subscribers, thank you for your generous support. Because of you, we have since been able to publish a second and third documentary, on the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh and the assault on Gaza’s healthcare system respectively.

Free subscribers can watch the first 10 minutes of ‘Israel’s Reel Extremism.’ If you feel like this 40-minute documentary is worth your time (which we hope it is), then please consider becoming a paid subscriber today to watch the full film without a paywall.

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Last month, in New York, after the premiere of Zeteo’s new documentary ‘Israel’s Reel Extremism,’ Mehdi moderated a panel discussion with three key voices in the Israel-Palestine debate, followed by a Q&A with the live audience at the Angelika Film Center. Paid subscribers to Zeteo got first access to tickets for this sold out event, which was co-hosted with Jewish Currents magazine.

The panel included legendary Haaretz correspondent Amira Hass, author of the widely acclaimed book ‘Drinking the Sea at Gaza’; Simone Zimmerman, whose personal journey is currently featured in the film ‘Israelism’ and is the co-founder of the Jewish anti-apartheid organization IfNotNow; and Najla Said, an award-winning Palestinian-America actor, author, and activist, and also the daughter of the legendary and late Edward Said. 

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They talked about the film (which, if you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for!), each of their unique experiences in Israel, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and for Najla and Simone, living in the U.S. and navigating life here as activists critical of Israel and supporters of a free Palestine. 

“Other media do not do not report about Israeli atrocities, and I'm talking about incremental atrocities,” Hass told Mehdi on the topic of censorship in Israel, highlighting the importance of documentaries like ‘Israel’s Reel Extremism.’

There are a lot of shocking moments in the documentary, but what shocked Hass more than most were the characters that said yes to appearing in front of our cameras - from Israeli soldiers to settlers to far-right media personalities and politicians. “I'm really surprised because I don't think that they would ever agree to meet with me,” she said. 

Said contrasted the language used in the documentary with interactions she had, not in Israel, but in the United States: “I think one of the things I was thinking as I was watching it as someone who's grown up in New York City my whole life… there's a level of dehumanization that goes into everyday talk where people don't even realize they're doing it.”

It’s a personal, political, and even emotional conversation you won’t find anywhere else. Watch the full panel conversation and audience Q&A above, and if you’re not a paid Zeteo subscriber yet, become one to watch the full version of ‘Israel’s Reel Extremism,’ produced by the award-winning Basement Films in the UK. 

We’d love for you to share it and help get the word out about this important and unique film!

Team Zeteo

“Watch this documentary and see Israel.”
-Gideon Levy, Haaretz columnist

“A gut-punch of a film.”
-Lara Friedman, President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace

“An extraordinary investigation”
- Naomi Klein, award-winning author and activist

Dear Subscribers, 

We’ve seen all your messages, your emails, your comments on social media asking about the release of Israel’s Reel Extremism, our first documentary. Many of you saw the trailer that came out earlier this summer and read Mehdi’s emphatic message to subscribers about why its subject matter is so important in today’s media landscape. 

Well, without further ado, Israel’s Reel Extremism is finally released! Please do watch the documentary above, streaming on Substack only for our subscribers. 

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For those of you who haven’t heard of the film yet or haven’t seen the trailer, Israel’s Reel Extremism is an on-the-ground examination of Israel and its society after many months of war, seen initially through the prism of viral social media posts from Gaza - and exclusive interviews with the soldiers behind them. These posts across TikTok and Instagram, some shared millions of times, show soldiers humiliating bound Palestinians, ransacking their homes, joking as they detonate schools and whole districts, and laughing as they launch high explosive ordnance into densely-packed areas. The award-winning team behind this Basement Films production traveled to Israel to interview soldiers, radical activists, rightwing politicians, and media personalities, revealing an Israeli Jewish society that, in the aftermath of October 7th, is gripped by vengeance and hate.

This is a documentary pitch that Basement Films, an award-winning production company in the UK, came to Zeteo with when no one else in the mainstream media on either side of the Atlantic was willing to consider it – and when you see the material in the final film, you’ll quickly understand why. 

“Liberal supporters of Israel need to face this horrifying reality,” notes Simone Zimmerman, the Jewish-American peace activist featured in the documentary Israelism. It’s “hard to watch, but hard to look away from,” says Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator.

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For those of you who are free subscribers, you’ll be able to watch the first 10 minutes of the film and, if you feel like this 40-minute documentary is worth your time (which we hope it is!), then please consider becoming a paid subscriber to watch the full documentary.

For those of you who are already paid subscribers, thank you for your generous support and for allowing this production to be made. We couldn’t have done it without you! Please do watch and share this documentary widely as we feel the subject is important enough to deserve the biggest and broadest audience possible.

So, let’s watch and share this unique and timely film together – and hopefully continue doing more vital journalistic work like this. And please join the conversation in the comments!

- Team Zeteo

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RELEASING AUGUST 7 ON ZETEO.COM
FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Become a subscriber today for any updates and future screenings.

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Israel’s Reel Extremism is an examination of Israel and its society after many months of war, seen initially through the prism of viral social media posts - and exclusive interviews with the soldiers behind them. These posts, some shared millions of times, show soldiers humiliating bound Palestinians, ransacking their homes, joking as they detonate schools and whole districts, and laughing as they launch high explosive ordnance into densely-packed areas. The award-winning team behind this Basement Films production traveled to Israel to interview some of these soldiers, who proudly defended themselves and their videos, some expressing callous disregard for Palestinians in Gaza. Through additional interviews with Israeli radical groups, politicians, and media figures, the film reveals Israeli Jewish society in the aftermath of October 7th, gripped by a vengeance and hate that puts into question any possibility for peace.