Israeli Military Rejects Allegations Portrayed in ‘Naza’

Israeli Military Disputes Claims Raised in Gaza War Documentary

Tempatdonasi.com – A documentary that drew major attention at the Venice International Film Festival has become the focus of intense political and military criticism in Israel. “NAZA,” an 80-minute film by Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, examines how Israeli military and intelligence personnel describe target-selection practices during the war in Gaza.

The film received the Special Jury Prize at Venice in mid-September and was met with a standing ovation lasting 25 minutes. Its release has since prompted a sharp response from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Culture Minister Miki Zohar, and the Israel Defense Forces.

Zohar condemned the filmmakers’ work as “treason against the state” and called for their Israeli citizenship to be revoked. The public dispute has highlighted the pressure surrounding scrutiny of military conduct during a conflict that has caused extensive destruction and loss of life in Gaza.

Anonymous testimony at the center of the film

“NAZA” is built around interviews with 24 unnamed people from military and intelligence backgrounds. Their accounts describe internal processes used during operations in the Gaza Strip, including deliberations over potential targets and the expected consequences for civilians.

Several interviewees say estimates of civilian deaths were, at times, included in decisions about whether to proceed with strikes. The documentary also raises questions about the role of artificial intelligence in the identification of targets and whether technological systems operated with sufficient human review.

The title comes from “Nezek Agavi,” a Hebrew expression translated as collateral damage. One soldier featured in the documentary says the abbreviation is used inside the military for an estimated number of civilians who may be killed in an attack. The choice of title places civilian harm at the center of the film’s examination of the war.

For viewers, the film’s significance lies not only in its claims but also in the perspective it presents: people portrayed as insiders discussing decisions usually kept from public view. Its anonymous format, however, has also become part of the wider debate over how the allegations can be assessed and contested.

IDF calls portrayal misleading

The IDF has rejected the documentary’s central allegations in a multi-page response. It argues that the filmmakers offer a distorted and misleading account of its conduct, saying the work contains substantial factual mistakes and presents reality in a manipulative manner.

The military specifically denies planning or carrying out attacks while expecting the deaths of hundreds of civilians. It also challenges the suggestion that artificial intelligence selected targets independently, maintaining that human personnel have always made the ultimate decisions on targets and attacks.

Its response further says the documentary leaves out key elements of the military’s decision-making structure. These include the involvement of commanders and military legal advisers in reviewing and authorizing operations, as well as measures the IDF says are intended to reduce harm to civilians.

The military also objects to what it sees as insufficient attention to the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. More than 1,200 people were killed in that attack and 250 people were taken hostage, an event that preceded the current war in Gaza.

Those competing accounts illustrate the central challenge for audiences confronting films about active conflicts. The documentary presents testimony from anonymous military and intelligence figures, while the IDF disputes both the interpretation of those accounts and the broader picture created by the filmmakers. The disagreement extends beyond individual claims to fundamental questions about responsibility, oversight, and the limits of military force in densely populated areas.

Wider scrutiny of the Gaza war

The film arrives amid continuing international scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Several human rights organizations and a United Nations commission have accused Israel of committing acts of genocide in the territory. Israel has rejected such accusations.

Health authorities in Gaza and other sources place the Palestinian death toll since the war began at at least 74,000. The scale of the casualties has intensified debate about targeting decisions, civilian protection, accountability, and the information available to the public during wartime.

Human rights groups, including the Israeli organization B’Tselem, have voiced support for the filmmakers. Their support has added another dimension to a debate that is already unfolding across political institutions, cultural spaces, military circles, and international forums.

Filmmakers urge Israeli audiences to watch

At the Venice awards ceremony, co-director Yuval Abraham framed the documentary as an effort to confront denial and encourage public discussion inside Israel.

We believe that the denial of a crime is what helps it persist. That is why it’s really, really especially important to us that Israelis watch this film.

Szor and Abraham previously worked on “No Other Land,” which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025. Their new project has now moved from its festival premiere to theatrical screenings around the world.

Its global release ensures that the arguments surrounding “NAZA” will not remain confined to Israel. For supporters, the documentary provides a rare challenge to official narratives about the Gaza war. For its critics, it unfairly characterizes military operations and excludes context they view as essential. As screenings continue, the film is likely to remain a focal point in the broader struggle over how the conflict is documented, understood, and remembered.