IDF Chief Orders Legal Review of 'NAZA' Film Accused of Defaming Soldiers

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered a review of potential legal actions against those involved in the documentary film "NAZA," which recently won an award at the Venice International Film Festival. Zamir convened a consultation with senior military officials, including the Deputy Chief of Staff, head of operations, and the Military Advocate General, to discuss the film's content.

The film, created by Israeli Oscar-winning directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore, reportedly examines the "mechanisms behind mass killing in Gaza" based on testimonies from 24 IDF soldiers and officers. The title "NAZA" is derived from the military acronym for "collateral damage."

Zamir stated that the film represents a "deliberate attempt to directly harm the legitimacy of the IDF and the State of Israel," calling it "blood libel, deliberate distortion of reality, and false and severe accusations against IDF soldiers and their commanders." He emphasized that the film "adopts the narratives of Israel's enemies, defames our soldiers and commanders, and seeks to portray the IDF as acting intentionally unlawfully," thereby endangering soldiers and commanders and undermining Israel's legitimacy to defend itself.

As a result of the consultation, Zamir instructed the establishment of a multi-organizational team to develop strategies for countering false claims against the IDF. He also directed the Military Advocate General to explore legal avenues against the film's creators and participants, citing the potential harm to their personal security and national security due to the dissemination of false allegations. Additionally, an examination of information security aspects and potential leaks of classified materials used in the film was ordered.

The IDF spokesperson categorically denied a central claim in the film that an attack was planned or approved in Gaza that would have resulted in the deaths of approximately 500 civilians, stating, "This is a completely false claim." The spokesperson further clarified that no credible claim has ever been raised during the war about an IDF attack causing anywhere near that number of civilian casualties.

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar announced he has contacted the Interior Ministry to explore revoking the Israeli citizenship of the film's creators, questioning whether their actions in obtaining or publishing materials constituted treason or aiding the enemy during wartime.