ALBAWABA - A former Israeli soldier named Ilan Raz sparked backlash on social media after revealing "Shield of David," a video game based on the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
Raz told Israeli outlet Mako that the game is 80 percent complete and set for an Oct. 7, 2025, release. The former Israeli soldier added that he's currently in talks with Epic Games to distribute the game, after a deal with a European distribution company fell through due to creative differences, when he refused to make changes to the game's story.
Shield of David: Israeli soldier develops video game about Gaza war
He further explained how players would feel playing "Shield of David" and said:
"The player doesn’t just press a button—they feel the ground shake, the exhaustion in their hands, the doubt in the eyes of the soldier next to them. This isn’t heroic fantasy—it’s an attempt to understand how it really feels to be there, when everything falls apart and you still have to remain human."
Gameplay footage flooded social media, showcasing an Israeli soldier operating in Gaza while depicting the destruction caused by constant Israeli bombardment.
The upcoming video game was condemned by many human rights and pro-Palestine activists who accused Raz of spreading propaganda and trying to humanize the war crimes Israeli soldiers are committing in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
Shield of David (Ilan Raz/ Mako interview)
A social media user wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), "The f*cking sickness in Israeli society, turning mass killing in Gaza into entertainment."
Another wrote, "I'm in no doubt this is how they see themselves when sniping children and blowing up tents, it's all a game to them."
An Instagram user wrote, "Will it include shooting 355 bullets into a car with a little girl trapped inside?"
Others are calling for a boycott of stores that are willing to publish "Shield of David" on their platforms.
The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza has resulted in the killing of more than 64,000 Palestinians and has left over 163,000 injured since Oct. 7, 2023.
According to Gaza's health ministry, 399 Palestinians, including 140 children, have died of starvation since the start of the war.
