Israeli Military Rejects Gaza Killings Claims in Venice Film Premiere

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have strongly refuted accusations presented in the documentary film "NAZA," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a record-breaking 25-minute standing ovation. The IDF categorically denies the film's assertions of mass and intentional killing of civilians in Gaza, allegedly facilitated by artificial intelligence.

The film, whose title refers to the military abbreviation for "collateral damage," was created by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shorr. According to one of the filmmakers, the documentary aims to detail the "system of killing in Gaza and how it functions." The film features testimonies from 24 Israelis, identified as former soldiers and intelligence personnel, who speak anonymously with their faces obscured and voices altered.

A central claim in "NAZA" revolves around an AI system named "Lavender," purportedly used to identify targets in Gaza. The film alleges that algorithms analyzed vast amounts of data, including mass surveillance information from Gaza's telecommunication networks, to pinpoint targets based on phone calls, movements, and interactions. Anonymous sources within the film describe the process as akin to a "video game" and "insanely fun."

The IDF has questioned the film's credibility, stating that the identities and roles of the anonymous interviewees cannot be verified. The military also pointed out that some claims regarding national and military strategy exceed the scope of junior personnel. The IDF emphasized that while computer systems are used for analysis, final decisions on striking targets are made by humans, not AI. The army maintains it operates in accordance with international law, striving to minimize civilian harm while targeting terrorist organizations like Hamas.

"NAZA," the sole documentary in Venice's main competition, has generated significant international attention. Despite the film's critical reception at the festival, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called it a "blood libel," particularly painful coming from Israeli filmmakers. Bennett stated that Israel would not risk its soldiers if its goal was to harm civilians, calling the war in Gaza "terrible" but not "genocide."

The article notes that the filmmakers were unable to access Gaza for their investigation, relying instead on anonymous interviews with Israelis involved in military intelligence. The film's factual basis for its serious accusations remains disputed, with the creators asking audiences to trust anonymous sources while the IDF highlights the impossibility of verifying their accounts.