One of the most troubling developments since October 7, 2023, is not merely the opposition Israel faces from its enemies, but the growing visibility of opposition within the Jewish people. Jewish individuals, organizations, political activists, and even Jewish Israeli citizens have become prominent voices challenging Israel’s government, its military actions, Zionism, and, in some cases, Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.
How do we explain this phenomenon? A closer look at Israel’s history shows that it is not new. Yet what is particularly striking is that whenever such internal opposition arose, it often emerged at critical moments in the nation’s history, sometimes preceding major turning points with far-reaching consequences.
Could what we are witnessing today be another sign that Israel is approaching a decisive turning point in its history, one that may be connected to the dramatic events foretold in biblical prophecy about the last days? What makes this phenomenon even more significant is that the Scriptures have much to say about this very danger, which today appears to be spreading like a fire from within.
Let us first consider some of the Jewish religious groups that oppose the modern State of Israel. Neturei Karta, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish movement, rejects the State of Israel on religious grounds, believing that Jewish sovereignty should be restored only with the coming of the Messiah. We often see members of this movement participating in anti-Zionist demonstrations, sometimes marching alongside groups openly hostile to Israel.
In the United States, Jewish Voice for Peace openly opposes Zionism and campaigns for Palestinian rights. In Canada, Independent Jewish Voices formally adopted an anti-Zionist position in June 2024 and continues to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. These and similar groups go beyond criticizing Israeli government policies. They are actual anti-Zionists. Other Jewish organizations oppose certain Israeli government policies without necessarily rejecting Israel’s existence. These distinctions matter.
However, nowhere is this controversy more visible than in a documentary called NAZA. What is NAZA? Directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by the British newspaper The Guardian, the documentary’s title derives from the Hebrew expression נזק אגבי, Nezek Agavi, meaning collateral damage.
The 80-minute documentary features testimony from 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers. It alleges that Israeli military operations in Gaza used sophisticated surveillance and artificial intelligence to identify targets while accepting extensive civilian casualties. These are extraordinarily serious accusations. One of the most disturbing allegations concerns a proposed military strike against a Hamas operative, in which, according to testimony in the documentary, as many as 500 civilian deaths were anticipated.
The film was a great success; it premiered at the Venice Film Festival and received a 25-minute standing ovation. It attracted considerable international attention, and the movie is coming out in different countries these days. It will be free online at the end of November 2026, and it is so anti-Israel: Brace for an increase in antisemitism.
Civilian suffering in Gaza is real and must never be diminished or dismissed. But extraordinary accusations require careful verification. The Israel Defence Forces categorically denies ever planning an attack in Gaza in which 500 civilian deaths, or anything approaching that number, were anticipated.
Furthermore, an extensive examination published by Israeli media, such as The Times of Israel, raised serious questions about the documentary’s investigative standards. Concerns included reliance on anonymous testimony, insufficient independent verification, lack of context, and failure to give the IDF an opportunity to respond before publication.
Also consider the IDF’s reputation for minimizing collateral damage. For instance, in 2009, Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told the United Nations that the IDF had done more to protect civilians in combat than any other army in history.
In 2024, Colonel John Spencer, a retired Army officer, said, “Israel implemented more measures to prevent civilian casualties than any other nation in history.” Yet much of the world doesn’t seem willing to hear it.
We appear to have reached a point where almost any negative comment about Israel receives immediate attention, while voices offering a different, more favorable perspective are too often ignored, dismissed, or drowned out. It is as if Israel is no longer judged by what it does but by what the world has already decided to believe about it.
What do the Bible’s prophets say about this phenomenon? First, God’s prophets often criticized Israel’s government with harsh words, yet not with hatred toward the state. Jeremiah, Isaiah, Amos, and Micah all delivered severe criticism of Israel or Judah. Yet their criticism was not necessarily directed against Israel’s existence or God’s covenant promises. The Hebrew Scriptures repeatedly describe moments when Israel’s greatest difficulties came not only from foreign enemies but also from divisions within the nation itself, as mentioned earlier.
Isaiah (9:21) spoke of the tribes of Israel turning against one another. Before the Assyrians and later the Babylonians came, Isaiah described Israel’s climate: “Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; Together they shall be against Judah.” Micah (7:6) warned that a man’s enemies could come from his own household. As Israel’s enemies began to gather, he said, “A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.”
Scripture goes further, right to the end times and the rise of the antichrist, and tells us that this world leader will find collaborators among those who have forsaken the covenant of God and Israel. Daniel wrote that this world leader will return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant (Daniel 11:30). The prophet is referring to the last 7 years before the Messiah comes, and what comes along now? Jews against Israel, as we see today.
According to end-time prophecies, nothing about what is happening is new; it is a sign that we are very close to our Lord’s coming. Even Jewish rabbinical tradition recognized the devastating consequences of internal division. In the Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 9b, the rabbis ask why the Second Temple was destroyed. Their answer is striking: Sinat Hinam, שִׂנְאַת חִנָּם, baseless hatred. They understood that hatred and division among the Jewish people contributed to the catastrophe of Jerusalem’s destruction in AD 70.
What, then, should we conclude? Israel has always faced external challenges and internal divisions. We must distinguish between legitimate criticism, opposition to specific governments, and rejection of Zionism, which denies what God has promised the Jewish people. Zion is a biblical term; it is the name of Jerusalem, and being a Zionist is agreeing with God that He will establish His kingdom there. As believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we remember that human failures do not invalidate God’s promises. As Paul reminds us in Romans 11:29: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Governments may change. Nations may oppose Israel. Even Jews may stand against one another. Yet the God of Israel remains faithful to His covenant promises.
Click here for the Video: Israel and the Nations – Why Are Some Jews Against Israel?