Third season of Israeli hit 'Fauda' ventures into Gaza Strip

The creators of Israel's hit TV show "Fauda," the action series that chronicles the adventures of undercover Israeli commando operatives in the Palestinian territories, are gearing up for their most ambitious mission yet: Gaza.

After two successful seasons, co-creators Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz are in the thick of filming their much-anticipated third season, which centers on the Gaza Strip, where the show's lead character poses as a Palestinian boxing instructor to infiltrate the senior ranks of the Hamas militant group.

The Netflix release date hasn't been revealed, but the season trailer debuted this week.

In this Thursday, May 30, 2019 photo, actors are dressed up and wait for their scene on the set of Israel's hit TV show "Fauda," in Tel Aviv, Israel. After two successful seasons, co-creators Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz are hard at work on their much-anticipated third season, a good portion of which takes place in the Gaza Strip. The season debut date for the Netflix hit hasn't been revealed, but the trailer is being released this week. (AP PhotoOded Balilty)

Gaza, a crowded Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas, is off limits for the Israeli creators. Although Gaza borders Israel, it's a world away — crippled by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after Hamas seized power from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007.

The blockade, which Israel says is needed to prevent Hamas from arming, has crushed Gaza's economy and brought the territory to the brink of humanitarian disaster. For over a decade, Gaza's 2 million people have suffered from rising poverty and unemployment, undrinkable water and frequent electricity outages.

Israel has forbidden its citizens from entering the territory since withdrawing from Gaza in 2005. The following year, Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit was captured in a cross-border raid and held captive by Gaza militants for five years. Since the Hamas takeover, Israel has fought three full-blown wars and numerous bloody skirmishes with Palestinian militants.

In this Thursday, May 30, 2019 photo, one of the creators of Israel's hit TV show "Fauda" Lior Raz poses for a photo in Tel Aviv, Israel. After two successful seasons, co-creators Avi Issacharoff and Raz are hard at work on their much-anticipated third season, a good portion of which takes place in the Gaza Strip. The season debut date for the Netflix hit hasn't been revealed, but the trailer is being released this week. (AP PhotoOded Balilty)

"We cannot go to Gaza of course to shoot it, so this is why it's so challenging to find the right places that give the feeling that we're almost there," said Issacharoff, a veteran Arab affairs journalist. He added that the past decade of Israel's on-and-off wars with Gaza has made it a highly combustible subject for the Israeli public.

"It deals with one of the biggest fears of the Israeli audience, maybe because of Gilad Schalit's five years in prison over there, maybe because people don't know Gaza," he said. "We know that we're touching something very sensitive at the heart of the Israeli audience. And it's not going to be easy."

The series, which dramatizes the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict that many of its spectators live out every day, was never billed as escapism. It has won rave reviews for what many say is a realistic and nuanced look at life in the region.

In this Thursday, May 30, 2019 photo, an actor waits for his scene on the set of Israel's hit TV show "Fauda," in Tel Aviv, Israel. After two successful seasons, co-creators Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz are hard at work on their much-anticipated third season, a good portion of which takes place in the Gaza Strip. The season debut date for the Netflix hit hasn't been revealed, but the trailer is being released this week. (AP PhotoOded Balilty)

The show's new setting of Gaza appears to be a case of art imitating life. Just last fall, a covert Israeli operation in Gaza went awry, setting off a fierce battle that left eight Palestinians and an Israeli officer dead and triggered a brief but intense round of cross-border fighting.

"Many things that you would see in Fauda are in a kind of dialogue with reality. It's not 100% what happens in reality, but we were inspired by true stories, we were inspired by true characters and sometimes we invented characters and stories that we found later, in reality," said Issacharoff.

Besides shootouts and chases, the show delves into the personal lives and minds of the Israeli commandos and Palestinian militants, often depicting their motivations and family struggles in a sympathetic manner. For both Israeli and Palestinian spectators, it provides a glimpse, even if fleeting, into the human experiences on the other side of the separation barrier and the decades-old conflict.

In this Thursday, May 30, 2019 photo, co-creators of Israel's hit TV show "Fauda" Avi Issacharoff, left, and Lior Raz pose for a photo in Tel Aviv, Israel. After two successful seasons, co-creators Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz are hard at work on their much-anticipated third season, a good portion of which takes place in the Gaza Strip. The season debut date for the Netflix hit hasn't been revealed, but the trailer is being released this week. (AP PhotoOded Balilty)

"We're trying to bring the human side of them as characters, as family people, with kids, with love, with every challenge that we have as human beings," said co-creator and lead actor Raz.

The show doesn't have any Palestinian writers, according to a spokesman for the Yes satellite network, which, critics say, limits its capacity to truly explore both sides.

The Palestinian-led movement that promotes boycotts of Israel has asked Netflix to nix the series, calling it an "Israeli propaganda tool that glorifies the Israeli military's war crimes."

In this Thursday, May 30, 2019 photo, actors play their roles during a scene on the set of Israel's hit TV show "Fauda," in Tel Aviv, Israel. After two successful seasons, co-creators Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz are hard at work on their much-anticipated third season, a good portion of which takes place in the Gaza Strip. The season debut date for the Netflix hit hasn't been revealed, but the trailer is being released this week. (AP PhotoOded Balilty)

Bishara Halloun, an Arab citizen of Israel who studies at Hebrew University, said that although he devoured both seasons and has many Palestinian friends who enjoy the show, he felt a creeping sense of unease as the series progressed.

"You leave with the stereotypical image about Palestinians, and about Arabs in the Middle East, that with their bombs and guns, they're the antagonists," he said. "I felt a little offended. Even if the Israeli soldiers use brutal tactics, they're the show's heroes. If you're a local, you know the truth is somewhere in between."

Raz admits his inherited Israeli perspective brands Palestinians as "the enemy." Just because the show contains tender moments and grapples with thorny political issues, the creators say, doesn't mean it strives to deliver world peace.

In this Thursday, May 30, 2019 photo, an actor waits for his scene on the set of Israel's hit TV show "Fauda," in Tel Aviv, Israel. After two successful seasons, co-creators Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz are hard at work on their much-anticipated third season, a good portion of which takes place in the Gaza Strip. The season debut date for the Netflix hit hasn't been revealed, but the trailer is being released this week. (AP PhotoOded Balilty)

More than anything, it's a gritty thriller and a blockbuster hit, aimed especially this season at attracting an international audience.

"The show is just an attempt by us, by Lior and myself, to be a good show, to be a good drama," said Issacharoff. "I would say that none of us has the intentions of changing reality or bringing peace to this planet. Especially when we're dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it's kind of mission impossible."

The Golden Globes bill themselves as Hollywood’s booziest bash. This year, is anyone ready to party?

Political tension and industrywide uncertainty are the prevailing moods heading into Sunday night's 83rd Golden Globes. Hollywood is coming off a disappointing box-office year and now anxiously awaits the fate of one of its most storied studios, Warner Bros.

A celebratory mood might be even more elusive given that the wide majority of the performers and filmmakers congregating at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, oppose the policies of President Donald Trump. Likely to be on the minds of many attendees: the recent U.S. involvement in Venezuela and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old mother Renee Good in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

But through their ups and downs, the Globes have always tried to put pomp over politics. Host Nikki Glaser has vowed as much.

“You’d be surprised that half the room had no clue why I was saying ‘Venezuela,’” Glaser told The Associated Press earlier in the week, referring to her comedy-club warm-ups. “People aren’t getting the news like we all are.”

Glaser, a comic known for her roast appearances, has promised to go after A-listers in her second time hosting.

“We’re going to hit Leo,” Glaser said. “The icebergs are coming.”

Here’s what to look for at this year’s Globes:

The Golden Globes kick off at 8 p.m. EST on CBS while streaming live for Paramount+ premium subscribers. E!’s red carpet coverage begins at 6 p.m. EST.

The Associated Press will be have a livestream show beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern with a mix of stars' arrivals, fashion shots and celebrity interviews. It will be available on YouTube and APNews.

The overwhelming Oscar favorite “One Battle After Another” comes in with a leading nine nominations. It’s competing in the Globes’ musical or comedy category, which means the drama side might be more competitive. There, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” and Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” are all in the mix.

But thus far, “One Battle After Another” has cleaned up just about everywhere. Much of Paul Thomas Anderson’s cast is nominated, including DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti and Benicio Del Toro.

If it and “Sinners” take home the two biggest prizes, it will be a banner night for Warner Bros. even as its future hangs in the balance. The studio has agreed to be acquired by Netflix is a deal worth $82.7 billion. Movie theaters have warned such a result would be “a direct and irreversible negative impact on movie theaters around the world.”

The merger awaits regulatory approval, while Paramount Skydance is still trying to convince Warner shareholders to accept its rival offer.

After an audacious promotional tour for “Marty Supreme,” Timothée Chalamet is poised to win his first Globe in five nominations. In best actor, comedy or musical, he’ll have to beat DiCaprio, a three-time Globe winner, and Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”).

In best actress, comedy or musical, Rose Byrne is the favorite for her performance in the not especially funny A24 indie “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” One prominent nominee in the category, Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked: For Good”), won’t be attending due to her schedule in the West End production “Dracula.”

Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”) is the clear front-runner in best actress, drama. In the star-studded best actor, drama, category, the Brazilian actor Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”) may win over Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”) and Joel Edgerton (“Train Dreams”).

In the supporting categories, Teyana Taylor and Stellan Skarsgård come in the favorites.

The Globes, formerly presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have no overlap or direct correlation with the Academy Awards. After being sold in 2023 to Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, a part of Penske Media, the Globes are voted on by around 400 people. The Oscars are voted on by more than 10,500 professionals.

But in the fluctuating undulations of awards season, a good speech at the Globes can really boost an Oscar campaign. Last year, that seemed to be the case for Demi Moore, who won for “The Substance” and gave the night's most emotional speech. Mikey Madison (“Anora”), however, scored the upset win at the Oscars.

A few potentially good moments this year went instead in a Golden Eve ceremony earlier this week. There, the Cecil B. DeMille and Carol Burnett honorees, Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker, accepted their awards.

One to watch, if he wins, will be the Iranian director Jafar Panahi. His revenge drama “It Was Just an Accident” is up for four awards. Panahi has spent most of his career making films clandestinely, without approval of authorities, and was until recently banned from leaving the country. Last month, he was sentenced to a year in prison, which would be only his latest stint behind bars if Panahi returns home to serve it. This week, protests over Iran’s ailing economy have spread throughout the country in a new test to Iran's leaders.

For the first time, the Globes are trotting out a new podcast category. The nominees are: “Armchair Expert,” “Call Her Daddy,” “Good Hang With Amy Poehler,” “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” “SmartLess” and “Up First.”

In TV, HBO Max’s “The White Lotus” — another potential big winner for Warner Bros. — leads with six nominations. Netflix’s “Adolescence” comes in with five nods.

But the most closely watched nominee might be “The Studio.” The first season of Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire memorably included an episode devoted to drama around a night at the Globes. (Sample line: “I remember when the red carpet of the Golden Globes actually stood for something.”) “The Studio” is up for three awards, giving three chances for life to imitate art.

For more coverage of this year’s Golden Globe Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/golden-globe-awards

Teyana Taylor arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Stellan Skarsgård, left, and Megan Everett-Skarsgard arrive at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Colman Domingo arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Selena Gomez arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Nikki Glaser arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Maura Higgins, from ledt, Gayle King, and Mona Kosar Abdi arrive at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Derek Hough arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Tessa Thompson arrives at the Golden Globes Golden Eve on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Nikki Glaser rolls out the red carpet during the 83rd Golden Globes press preview on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)