IDF Denies 'Absolute Lies' in Venice Award-Winning Gaza Documentary

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has vehemently denied claims presented in the Israeli documentary "NAZA" (Nose), which recently won a jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film features testimonies from 24 soldiers and intelligence personnel discussing combat mechanisms in Gaza. The IDF spokesperson stated, "It is an absolute lie. The IDF never planned, approved, or carried out an attack in Gaza where 500 civilians were expected to be killed or anything close to that number." The IDF asserts that no credible claims emerged during the war indicating such a high civilian death toll from any IDF attack, and that the filmmakers could not verify this specific claim despite its inclusion.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi also consulted on the film, with the IDF stating it is a deliberate attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the IDF and Israel. Halevi emphasized that the IDF operates in accordance with international law and its own values, striving to minimize harm to non-combatants, with casualty rates significantly lower than other global armies when compared to terrorists. He characterized the film as based on "blood libels, deliberate distortion of reality, and false and serious accusations against IDF soldiers and commanders," calling it a dangerous attempt to deny Israel the legitimacy to defend itself and to endanger its soldiers.

Halevi has initiated several measures, including forming a multi-organizational team to develop strategies for countering false claims against the IDF and its soldiers, and has instructed the Military Advocate General to explore legal actions against the film and its participants for disseminating false claims that could impact the personal security of soldiers and national security. An examination into potential leaks of classified materials used in the film is also underway.

The IDF further noted that the film relies on anonymous testimonies, making it impossible to verify the interviewees' service or roles. The filmmakers, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, stated the film was shot "on the rooftops of Tel Aviv" and details "the systems behind the calculated mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel" since the October 7th Hamas attacks. The film, produced by The Guardian, draws on material previously published by "Local Call" and "+972 Magazine" between 2023 and 2025.

Public reaction in Israel has been highly emotional, with figures like actor Yossi Marshek and influencer Yoav Eliasi (HaTzel) condemning the film as treasonous and a propaganda attack. Youssef Haddad called it "anti-Israeli pride," serving the enemy's propaganda machine. The IDF spokesperson invited the filmmakers to allow IDF representatives to view the full film for a substantive discussion of its claims.