IDF Refutes Claims in Anti-Israel Film 'Collateral Damage'

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a strong rebuttal to an anti-Israel film titled 'Collateral Damage' (Nez'a), asserting that its narrative is built on significant factual errors, misrepresentation, and manipulative editing. The military spokesperson stated that the film presents a distorted, misleading, and unrealistic portrayal of IDF target planning and attack processes.

According to the IDF, the film's central claims are fundamentally flawed. Contrary to the movie's assertions, the IDF emphasizes that its regulations clearly distinguish between combatants and uninvolved civilians in Gaza, prohibiting attacks on civilians and mandating efforts to minimize harm. The military also denied ever planning or executing an attack in Gaza where the deaths of 500 civilians were anticipated or where such a number of civilian casualties was claimed to have resulted from an IDF strike.

The IDF further clarified that artificial intelligence does not independently select targets. Target identification is performed by qualified intelligence officers, attack planning by relevant professionals, and final approval rests with operational commanders. The military also refuted claims about the 'Lavie' system, stating it is a database for intelligence analysts, not an automated target approval system. The IDF also denied that evacuation warnings permit disregard for civilians remaining in an area, and stated that it investigates strike outcomes to learn lessons, not ignore them.

The IDF suggested that the filmmakers failed to conduct adequate fact-checking and source verification, leading to the numerous errors. The military noted that interviewees, presented as former intelligence personnel, often discussed only preliminary intelligence phases, not the broader operational planning and approval processes handled by different units. The IDF also accused the filmmakers of omitting crucial context about the war's security reasons, Hamas's deliberate embedding within the civilian population, and the IDF's extensive measures to minimize civilian harm, such as pre-strike warnings, munition selection, and humanitarian aid support.

Additionally, the IDF criticized the film's manipulative editing, its comparison to historical atrocities, and its alleged attribution of malicious intent. The military explained that 'collateral damage' is a professional term used by lawful militaries to assess and minimize expected civilian harm, a requirement under international law. The IDF stated that the film absurdly presents this effort as indifference to civilian lives, when in reality, it often leads to the cancellation of attacks. The IDF acknowledged the moral weight felt by soldiers involved in strikes but asserted this reflects the seriousness of the decisions, not illegality or indifference. The military concluded that the film is an agenda-driven, simplistic manifesto that distorts facts and uses emotional manipulation to create an impression of inhumanity, while the IDF operates humanely and in accordance with international humanitarian law.