A venue has been pressured by members of the island’s Jewish community to cancel the airing on Sunday of a documentary on Israel, The Royal Gazette understands.

The film, Israelism, has been brought to the island by a private group describing itself as “a collective of concerned Bermudian residents of many faiths and backgrounds”, which rented the Tradewinds Auditorium from the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute for the screening.

The request came in writing yesterday to the BUEI from members of the Jewish Community of Bermuda.

A BUEI representative was unavailable for comment last night, and the Jewish community declined to comment when contacted.

Sources familiar with the request said that there was an explicit call for the documentary, which is free of charge, not to be screened on the island.

Israelism, which explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has become a flashpoint for controversy since the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas and the ensuing military campaign against the group by the Israel Defence Forces.

The civilian death toll in Gaza, believed to be approaching 30,000, has drawn international criticism of Israel and calls for a ceasefire.

The war has also prompted calls internationally for Israelism, which follows two American Jews as they learn about the conflict and change their views, not to be shown — with opponents accusing its sympathetic portrayal of the Palestinian plight as biased and anti-Semitic.

The film has won awards at several film festivals.

The BUEI is not affiliated with the screening. Its auditorium is used regularly by different groups for presentations.

Bermuda’s Jewish Community Centre has taken a careful stance on the war, with its memorial at its headquarters on St John’s Road in Pembroke standing in tribute to Israeli hostages seized by Hamas — but also a “heartfelt expression of support for innocent people in Israel and Gaza who are facing unimaginable circumstances”.

The memorial was vandalised in December with “Free Palestine” spray-painted across the flag of Israel.

Similarly, the group behind the screening of Israelism said this month that they supported “an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, and the safe release of both Palestinian and Israeli hostages”.

It was also billed as “a loving call” to the community to explore “our collective humanity and to learn together”.