The Israeli documentary “NAZA,” directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, is scheduled for a wide international theatrical release in over 50 countries, followed by a free global streaming availability on the Guardian’s website in November. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month, where it received a standing ovation lasting 25 minutes—a festival record—and won the special jury prize.
“NAZA” is based on three years of investigative journalism and presents testimonies from 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel. The documentary examines what it describes as the systematic killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by Israeli forces. The title refers to a Hebrew military acronym used by Israeli intelligence to estimate the number of expected civilian casualties in airstrikes, with “NAZA 15” permitting the death of 15 civilians per strike in a single target area.
The film builds on reporting initially published by the Guardian, +972 Magazine, and the Israeli-Palestinian investigative site Local Call. It is co-produced by Oscar-winning filmmakers Jonathan Glazer and James Wilson. Following its Venice premiere, the documentary has been screened at major festivals including Bologna, San Sebastián, and will premiere in North America at the New York Film Festival, with a subsequent rollout in American cities such as New York and Los Angeles.
Efforts are underway to secure screenings in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, though the film has generated significant controversy and backlash domestically. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside senior military officials and far-right politicians, has condemned the filmmakers, calling for their citizenship to be revoked on accusations of “treason” for allegedly defaming Israeli soldiers and the state. Netanyahu has also announced plans to propose legislation that would enable stripping citizenship from individuals deemed to "smear" Israel’s military.
In response, the filmmakers have rejected the accusations, emphasizing their intent to foster public discussion about Israeli government military actions in Gaza and the humanitarian consequences. Abraham and Szor have expressed their commitment to airing the issues raised by the documentary despite threats and intimidation, including protests by right-wing activists outside Szor’s family home. Police and border security forces were deployed during the protests, where some demonstrators voiced calls for severe punitive measures against the directors, including calls for the “death penalty for traitors” and demands to demolish the filmmakers’ family homes.
The controversy has prompted responses from human rights organizations and the broader creative community. Forty-three local Israeli human rights groups issued a statement urging authorities to cease incitement and threats against the filmmakers and to refrain from prosecuting them or their sources. More than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers signed a petition defending freedom of expression and showing solidarity with Abraham and Szor. Internationally, notable directors and producers, including Ken Loach and Joshua Oppenheimer, have publicly condemned what they characterize as an intimidation campaign against the documentary’s creators.
Abraham has highlighted the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths about the conflict, stating that acknowledging the events in Gaza does not minimize the October 7 attack for which Hamas is responsible, but rather addresses the conditions that led to the violence. The filmmakers and their supporters underscore that their work aims to contribute to journalistic transparency and democratic accountability amid a highly polarized and volatile context.