Venice Film Festival's 'NAZA' Sparks Outrage in Israel With Gaza Operations Testimony

The documentary film "NAZA," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, has ignited significant political and media controversy within Israel. The film presents testimonies from individuals who claim to have served in the Israeli military and intelligence services, detailing the methods used in targeting operations in the Gaza Strip. Following its screening, the film received a 24-minute standing ovation and was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, marking it as one of the most politically charged films of the event.

Directed by Israelis Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, "NAZA" features covert interviews with 24 former military and intelligence personnel. Conducted over three years, these interviews explore their roles in Gaza operations. To protect their identities, some interviewees were filmed at night in Tel Aviv with their voices and appearances digitally altered. The film focuses on personal accounts and the mechanics of targeting systems, rather than conventional war footage. The title "NAZA" reportedly refers to a military term for expected civilian casualties, or "collateral damage," in an attack, which the film uses to examine how civilian lives are factored into military calculations. It also touches upon the use of AI and data analysis in target selection, drawing on previous journalistic investigations but presenting them through firsthand accounts.

The film is the second collaboration between Abraham and Szor, following "No Other Land," which they co-directed with Palestinians Basel Adra and Hamdan Bilal. Abraham is an investigative journalist and filmmaker, while Szor is a director, cinematographer, and editor. "NAZA" was produced in collaboration with The Guardian, with executive production by Jonathan Glazer, director of the Oscar-winning film "The Zone of Interest." The film's foundation lies in investigative journalism, partly based on prior reporting by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call regarding Gaza targeting mechanisms.

"NAZA" received the Special Jury Prize on September 12th, a significant artistic recognition within the festival's main competition. This award came after the film's widely praised premiere. The controversy in Israel stems from the film's sources and content. It presents testimonies from individuals claiming to be former Israeli military and intelligence personnel, directly addressing target selection, AI usage, and anticipated civilian casualties. This has made the film particularly sensitive in Israel, as it implicates individuals within the military system. The fact that the filmmakers are Israeli has intensified criticism. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett publicly condemned the film as a "blood libel" and a false accusation against the IDF. The Israeli military has categorically denied the film's accusations, questioned the credibility of the anonymous sources, and stated that target selection is a human decision, not solely AI-driven, with measures in place to minimize civilian harm.

The debate surrounding "NAZA" extends beyond the interpretation of the war's events to the question of who has the right to narrate the internal workings of the Israeli military and whether anonymous testimonies can alter the official war narrative. This film follows a history of critical documentaries about Israeli policy and conflict, including "No Other Land" and "The Gatekeepers," which also sparked debate within Israel. However, "NAZA" is distinguished by its timing, its focus on the decision-making process and casualty calculations in Gaza operations, and the international platform it has gained.