Gaza War Documentary 'NAZA' Premieres in New York Amid Israeli Criticism

The promotional trailer for the documentary film "NAZA," which focuses on the Gaza war and has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli officials, has been released on YouTube ahead of its North American premiere at New York's Lincoln Center on Saturday. The Israeli military has attacked the film, expressing concern over its potential impact on soldiers. The trailer features interviews with individuals whose identities are concealed, discussing expectations of civilian casualties from airstrikes. One interviewee describes the situation as a "target factory," while another claims there was once "approval to kill 500 people." Another speaker recalls sentiments expressed after the October 7th attacks, such as "there are no innocents in Gaza."

The film, directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, is set to screen at the New York Film Festival. It previously won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival earlier in the month. The Israeli American Council announced plans for a rally outside Lincoln Center during the film's screening, intending to counter its narrative and highlight the Hamas-led attack with a film titled "October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre."

"NAZA" was filmed at night on rooftops in Tel Aviv and includes anonymous interviews with 24 individuals presented as Israeli soldiers and intelligence operatives. They describe surveillance and targeting procedures, alleging that strikes were carried out despite anticipated significant civilian losses. The film's title is derived from a Hebrew military acronym for "collateral damage."

The Israeli military has refuted these claims, questioning whether the interviewees had access to the information they discussed. The army asserted that it operates in accordance with the laws of armed conflict, takes measures to minimize civilian harm, and relies on human intelligence for strike selection and approval. Director Yuval Abraham stated that the filmmakers verified the accounts through multiple sources and noted that the documentary will be available online for free in November, having been offered to Israeli cinemas without charge.