Israeli Documentary on Gaza Accusations Wins Venice Film Festival Award

The documentary film "N.A.Z.A. (Collateral Damage)" by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor has received a jury prize at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. The film, shot on rooftops in Tel Aviv during the war with Hamas in Gaza, features 24 anonymous Israeli military intelligence Unit 8200 soldiers who describe what they consider "war crimes and genocide." They discuss the policy of "collateral damage," airstrikes, and targeted assassinations, with a central focus on the use of artificial intelligence in recommending targets based on phone surveillance, even when civilian casualties were possible.

Abraham stated that it is particularly important for Israelis to see the film, asserting, "this is our country committing crimes." He also criticized Israeli politicians and journalists who attacked the film without viewing it, adding that "denial of a crime allows it to continue." He emphasized the need for Israelis, Europeans, and Americans to see the film, as their governments fund a significant portion of the "killings."

The filmmakers, whose previous film "No Other Land" won an Oscar, aim to show the film widely in Israel to encourage recognition of the government's actions in Gaza. They claim the events depicted demonstrate a "deliberate policy of destruction, including the use of artificial intelligence."

The IDF spokesperson's office stated that the army completely rejects the claims in the film. They argued that the film is based on unverifiable anonymous testimonies, includes judgments on national and military strategy beyond the knowledge of junior soldiers, and misuses legal terms. The IDF maintains it operates according to international law, targets military objectives, strives to minimize civilian harm, and that target selection decisions are made by humans, not AI.

Abraham and Shor responded by highlighting that their investigation was thorough and conducted in collaboration with The Guardian, and that many of the mechanisms described have been reported by other reputable media outlets. Jury head Maggie Gyllenhaal praised the film for its "immense courage and intelligence," noting that despite the anonymity of interviewees, the filmmakers effectively revealed the mechanisms at play, creating a "powerful cinematic statement documenting an ongoing genocide."