Three Israeli filmmakers have released a documentary aimed at directly challenging the Venice Film Festival award-winning film NAZA, which alleges systematic misconduct by Israeli forces in Gaza. The new film, titled *NAZA: The Real Story*, was launched this week with English subtitles to quickly influence the global conversation on the conflict.
Directed by Lt. Col. Roi Danino, Hagai Gutman, and Ariel Averbuch, *NAZA: The Real Story* seeks to refute the original film’s anonymous whistleblower claims using a range of evidence, including declassified Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recordings, combat footage, and intelligence material. The filmmakers’ central argument is that the original film’s portrayal of Israeli military actions overlooks critical operational challenges and Hamas tactics on the battlefield.
The documentary addresses the primary accusation of civilian casualties by highlighting three key issues: the alleged systematic use of civilian areas by Hamas militants, the operational constraints faced by Israeli troops due to the presence of hostages, and the significant security challenges in providing humanitarian aid amid ongoing hostilities. Unlike NAZA, which relies heavily on testimonies from junior soldiers speaking under anonymity, the filmmakers feature interviews with active military commanders and intelligence officials willing to speak openly.
Supporting their stance, the filmmakers present captured enemy manuals and tactical videos that, according to them, demonstrate Hamas’s deliberate use of civilian clothing, weapons caches in residential buildings, and command centers embedded within population centers as a defensive strategy against the IDF.
The directors emphasize that their film is intended as an offensive counternarrative to the traditional defensive posture Israel often assumes in international discourse. They describe the project as a strategic effort to reshape the narrative surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict, particularly as the original NAZA film gains significant distribution and visibility across Europe and the United States.
Production of the documentary involved filming under strict operational security, including shoots on rooftops in Tel Aviv at night, and the identities of some personnel involved in assembling sensitive classified materials remain confidential to protect their safety.
To maximize reach, the filmmakers are leveraging digital influencers and grassroots networks worldwide to disseminate their documentary directly to policymakers and journalists. The team views this media engagement not merely as a commentary on military tactics but as a critical battle over the historical record and international perception of the conflict.