A documentary depicting alleged Israeli military actions resulting in civilian deaths in Gaza has sparked intense controversy within Israel after receiving international acclaim. The film, titled "NAZA," premiered last week at the Venice International Film Festival where it was met with a 25-minute standing ovation and awarded the Special Jury Prize.
Directed by Israelis Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, "NAZA" features interviews with 24 individuals described as Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers. The documentary claims to expose the mechanisms behind what it terms as Israel's deliberate killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The identities of the interviewees remain undisclosed due to potential legal repercussions.
While praised abroad, the film has drawn sharp condemnation at home. Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir criticized the documentary as containing “blood libels” and “deliberate distortions of reality.” He convened senior military officials to consider a formal response, including examining potential legal action against those accused of spreading false information or revealing classified material.
Culture Minister Miki Zohar went further, urging authorities to investigate whether the filmmakers should be stripped of their Israeli citizenship on grounds of allegedly betraying the state. The directors’ representatives declined to comment directly on the citizenship threat, though Mr. Abraham issued a video statement emphasizing the importance of Israeli society confronting military conduct in Gaza. He noted that the soldiers spoke in Hebrew to reach the Israeli public.
The Guardian, which co-produced the film, condemned the harsh official reaction, describing it as an authoritarian attempt at censorship. The outlet affirmed its commitment to defend the documentary and the filmmakers against such attacks, emphasizing the film’s basis in over three years of investigative journalism.
The release of "NAZA" comes nearly three years after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which precipitated a prolonged conflict in Gaza. Previous investigations have detailed how Israel’s military loosened rules of engagement at the outset of the war, granting mid-level officers expanded authority to strike military targets, including those posing risks of civilian casualties. Reports indicated that safeguards to protect civilians were diminished amid these shifts.
In the documentary, one interviewee asserts that Israel knowingly authorized strikes resulting in dozens, and in one case potentially hundreds, of civilian deaths. The Israeli military has denied these specific allegations, stating it has never approved operations with anticipated civilian death tolls reaching such numbers and maintains compliance with international law.
Military officials also criticized the film for relying on unverifiable anonymous testimonies and failing to acknowledge Hamas’s practice of embedding fighters and infrastructure within civilian areas, which Israeli authorities cite as justification for targeting decisions.
Opposition politicians have also weighed in. Former military chief and centrist candidate Gadi Eisenkot, who lost a son in the Gaza fighting, described the documentary as offering a “distorted” portrayal. Acknowledging legitimate criticism in a democracy, Eisenkot condemned what he characterized as unfair smearing of Israeli soldiers to gain international recognition.
The release and ensuing debate over "NAZA" underscore deep divisions within Israeli society over the conduct of the military in Gaza and the broader ramifications of the ongoing conflict.