Gaza War Documentary 'Naza' Wins Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival

The documentary film 'Naza,' directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film focuses on the Gaza war and is based on interviews conducted over three years with 24 individuals identified as Israeli soldiers and intelligence operatives, whose identities were concealed.

During his acceptance speech, Abraham criticized Israeli politicians and journalists who he said were attacking the film without watching it, stating, "It is not easy to stand here and think about all the Israeli politicians and journalists who are attacking this film now and rejecting it without even watching it. Huge efforts are being made to avoid looking at reality."

The documentary details alleged surveillance, target selection, and approval of strikes expected to result in civilian casualties. It includes claims that the military deliberately authorized attacks causing significant civilian deaths. The film, shot at night over rooftops in Tel Aviv, derives its title 'Naza' from a Hebrew military acronym for 'collateral damage.' It received a 25-minute standing ovation at its premiere.

The Israeli military has refuted the film's allegations, citing numerous credibility gaps and questioning how the anonymous interviewees obtained their information. The military stated that claims regarding national and military strategy are beyond the scope of junior soldiers' knowledge. They emphasized their focus on targeting "terrorist" organizations, adherence to the laws of armed conflict, and measures taken to minimize civilian harm. The military also clarified that human decision-makers, not AI, approve targets and strikes.

Abraham and Szor previously co-directed 'No Other Land,' a film about Palestinian communities in the West Bank, with Palestinian filmmakers Basel Adra and Hamdan Bilal. That film won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2025.