Gaza War Documentary 'Nezah' to Stream Free Online in November

Israeli director Yuval Abraham announced on Thursday that his documentary film 'Nezah,' which won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, will be made available for free online streaming in November. The film is based on testimonies from 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence operatives, who detail the Israeli forces' alleged deliberate killing of a large number of civilians during the war in Gaza. They describe the use of AI-based systems in these operations, though their identities are concealed.

Abraham stated on the platform X, also on behalf of co-director Rachel Sor, that his intention is to make the film accessible to the widest possible audience to "show the truth." He explained that the film was made to spark public debate about the Israeli government's actions in Gaza, the deaths of over 73,000 people, mostly civilians, and the "normalization of genocidal war."

'Nezah' is an Israeli military slang term for estimated "collateral damage" before a strike. The film has generated significant backlash in Israel. Culture Minister Miki Zohar called for the directors' citizenship to be revoked for "treason," while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the film as "shocking." Netanyahu later supported proposed "Nezah Laws" that would allow for the revocation of citizenship and impose fines on those found guilty of defaming Israel.

The Israeli military denied the film's claims, asserting that it strives to avoid civilian casualties and questioning the verification of the individuals featured in the documentary. The army reiterated that human decision-makers are responsible for airstrikes and that extensive efforts are made to protect civilians.

Abraham believes his film has "broken the barrier of indifference" in Israel, despite the "heavy personal cost." He and Sor intend to return to Israel to "continue the struggle" for the country's future. The war in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of approximately 74,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, including over 21,500 children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.