Retired IDF Pilot Defends Military Decision-Making After NAZA Film

A retired Israeli Air Force lieutenant colonel, identified only as 'A.', who has conducted thousands of combat sorties, has broken his silence following the controversy surrounding the NAZA film, which he believes unfairly demonizes Israel's military conduct. The pilot, who served in the elite 101st Squadron and has flown missions over Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, and Yemen, stated that while war is hell, surrender is not an option.

He clarified that 'NAZA' (collateral damage) is not a haphazard outcome but a carefully developed military doctrine over 25 years, designed to minimize civilian harm despite adversaries intentionally embedding military infrastructure within civilian areas in Gaza. The pilot explained that the decision-making process for strikes is rigorous, involving multiple layers of intelligence verification and approval, with the final strike configuration often decided by a commander of lieutenant colonel rank or higher. The pilot executing the strike is the fourth link in this chain.

According to Lt. Col. A., pilots have the authority to alter or abort strikes if conditions are not met, including reducing munition size or performing a "roof knock" to warn civilians. He described the moments before a munition drop as a "super-complicated dilemma" where operational achievement is weighed against the risk to civilians. He refuted a specific claim from the NAZA film alleging a strike that could have killed 500 civilians, stating with high confidence that such an incident never occurred.

While acknowledging the inherent risks and the tragic possibility of civilian casualties in war, the pilot asserted that Israel takes extensive measures to prevent harm. He expressed pride in serving a democratic military that allows for self-questioning and transparency, posing a rhetorical question to the filmmakers: "What would you have done in my place?" He concluded that he sleeps soundly, feeling no shame for his actions, despite the grim realities of war.