False Flag

Five ordinary Israeli citizens wake up to a media storm naming them as prime suspects in a high-profile killing in Dubai, loosely tied to the 2010 death of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. The show tracks how sudden suspicion fractures routines, friendships, and careers as police, intelligence agents, and journalists converge. Through raids, surveillance footage, forged papers, and conflicting witness accounts, the narrative pieces together the evidence while each character copes with public shame and private secrets. Storylines alternate between tense interrogations and intimate domestic moments, keeping the focus on human cost rather than political grandstanding, with no spoilers about who did what.

Released in 2015, False Flag was created by Amit Cohen, Maria Feldman, and Leora Kamenetzky, and directed by Oded Ruskin. The series is loosely based on real events surrounding the Dubai killing, adapted into a serialized drama for television.

The show drew attention beyond Israel, prompting an English-language remake titled "Suspicion" on Apple TV+. It also sparked wider conversation about passport fraud, cross-border operations, and how fast modern media can assign guilt, making the original more discussed internationally than many local dramas.

Audience ratings hover around 7.1 out of 10 from user votes, and reviewers often highlighted the ensemble cast and tight plotting. Central themes include identity, the fragility of reputation, state surveillance, and the power of media narratives to alter lives in an instant. Performances are understated rather than theatrical, which helps keep the focus on the fallout of accusation rather than on action set pieces.