IDF Chief of Staff Orders Response to Gaza Genocide Film

The Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, has ordered the military to combat the "serious and false allegations" made in a film titled "Nez'a," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and claims Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Kochavi held a meeting with senior IDF officials in Tel Aviv on Monday to discuss the film.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Drorin stated that the military rejects the claims presented in the film's trailer, emphasizing that the full version has not yet been released. "The film 'Nez'a' has not yet been fully released, but from what can be seen in the trailer, a series of difficult and false claims are presented regarding the IDF and its personnel," Drorin said. He added that the claims are inaccurate and distorted, detached from reality on the ground.

The film, created by Israelis Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shore, reportedly features testimonies from Israeli soldiers and officers alleging systematic harm to uninvolved civilians in Gaza and the approval of widespread harm to innocents. It also raises claims regarding the use of artificial intelligence. The identities of the individuals featured in the film are blurred, making it impossible to verify their claims.

Drorin invited the filmmakers to provide the IDF with the full film for a substantive review, stating, "To enable a serious, professional, and fact-based discussion, and not to settle for misrepresentations, I invite the filmmakers to allow IDF representatives to watch the full film, so that we can address each of the claims raised in it in a substantive manner." He stressed that the public discussion should be based on facts, not falsehoods and slander.

Drorin also defended the IDF's conduct, asserting, "It is important for me to emphasize, the IDF is a values-based army, operating in accordance with international law and according to professional values and standards. This is how we have acted over the past three years and how we will continue to act, even under the most complex combat conditions." He concluded by expressing full support for IDF soldiers and commanders, stating they deserve backing and protection for their service and sacrifice in defending the country.