Israeli Film Accused of Blood Libel Against IDF Soldiers Wins Venice Award

An Israeli film titled "NAZA," which accuses Israeli soldiers of "calculated mass murder" of Gazan civilians, has received a special jury prize at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. Directed by Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shor, the 80-minute documentary, produced by The Guardian and JW Films, claims to expose alleged Israeli military systems behind the "calculated mass murder of Palestinian civilians in Gaza." The film is based on anonymous testimonies from 24 Israelis who reportedly served in the military and intelligence services, presenting harsh claims about the use of force in the Gaza Strip.

During its premiere screening at the festival, the film reportedly received a lengthy standing ovation of approximately 24.5 minutes, the longest recorded at the festival, with Palestinian and Lebanese flags reportedly being waved in the audience. This international platform for the film's allegations, presented by Israeli creators and featuring Israeli interviewees, has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli officials.

Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb strongly condemned the film and its Israeli participants, questioning their loyalty and the lack of military censorship. She stated, "Who needs enemies when you have enemies from within?" and criticized the perceived silence surrounding the film, arguing it harms the IDF's resilience and the integrity of its soldiers.

The Joint List party celebrated the film's reception in Venice, asserting that "the whole world now understands the extent of the atrocities committed in Gaza." They further characterized the actions of Israeli soldiers in the Strip as "destruction mechanisms" responsible for the deaths of "tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian children, women, and men."

Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar described the film's award as "appalling" and a "betrayal of the country." He attributed the win to the creators' "burning self-hatred" aimed at pleasing "antisemites worldwide." Zohar announced his intention to immediately pursue revoking the Israeli citizenship of the filmmakers for alleged treason, citing his reform in cinema funding to prevent Israeli taxpayer money from supporting content that harms IDF soldiers and the state.