Israeli Documentary on Gaza Operations Wins Venice Film Festival Award

The documentary film "N.Z.A." (Accidental Damage), by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore, has been honored with the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. The film features testimonies from 24 soldiers of Unit 8200 of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regarding IDF operations in Gaza during the recent conflict. Filmed in Tel Aviv, the documentary includes interviews with individuals who claim involvement in "war crimes and genocide" and describe a policy of "accidental damage," shelling, and assassinations.

A central theme is the alleged use of artificial intelligence by the IDF to recommend targets for elimination, based on phone surveillance, even when attacks might result in civilian casualties, including family members. The filmmakers assert that this constitutes a deliberate policy of destruction, amplified by AI. "We are both grateful to be here," said Abraham at the awards ceremony, addressing critics in Israel who he claims are denying the film's reality without seeing it. He highlighted recent Palestinian child deaths in Gaza, stating that the intelligence officers interviewed described the mass killing as systematic and planned, based on the dehumanization of Palestinians.

Abraham further stated that the truth documented in the film is known from the outset, thanks to Palestinian journalists, over 200 of whom have been killed in Gaza. He emphasized the importance of Israelis, Europeans, and Americans watching the film, citing the role of European governments in blocking pressure on Israel and US funding for the conflict. The jury praised the film's courage, intelligence, and its examination of mechanisms, noting how the directors found a powerful cinematic way to present anonymous testimonies.

The IDF has strongly refuted the film's claims, calling them baseless and based on anonymous testimonies from individuals whose service and roles cannot be verified. The IDF stated that claims about national and military strategy are beyond the knowledge of junior soldiers and that intelligence personnel are not involved in the situations described. The military also criticized the misuse of legal terminology and internal contradictions within the film's narrative. The IDF maintains that its operations in Gaza are defensive, targeting Hamas and adhering to international law, with unprecedented efforts to minimize civilian harm, while Hamas operates from civilian areas. The IDF investigates all individual suspicions of violations of the law through independent enforcement mechanisms. Regarding AI, the IDF asserted that all decisions regarding attacks are made by humans, not AI.

Abraham and Shore responded to the IDF's statement, asserting their investigation was meticulous and collaborated with The Guardian, with many mechanisms described in the film already reported by other major outlets. They believe the IDF's response is an attempt to avoid confronting reality. The festival also saw other awards, including the Golden Lion for Best Film to "A Woman," and acting awards for Matilda Arsel and John Malkovich.