IDF Slams "Collateral Damage" Film as Distorted and Manipulative

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a strong condemnation of the film "Collateral Damage," which examines the planning and execution of strikes in the Gaza Strip. In a detailed response, the IDF spokesperson described the film as presenting a distorted, misleading, and unrealistic picture based on factual errors and manipulative editing. The military emphasized that the filmmakers acted contrary to journalistic norms by not submitting their claims for review or response before publication and refusing to provide a copy after its screening.

The IDF categorically rejects the film's central claims. According to the response, the "Lavender" system is not an approved target database but a data repository assisting intelligence researchers, and artificial intelligence has never independently selected targets for attack; all decisions are made solely by operational commanders. The IDF also stated that it has never authorized an attack expected to result in the deaths of 500 civilians. Furthermore, no automatic approval was ever given for strikes endangering a set number of civilians in exchange for eliminating terrorists, contrary to the film's assertion of quotas for different levels of operatives.

The military explained that the film's numerous errors stem from the fact that interviewed soldiers served in the Intelligence Corps, thus addressing only the initial stages of target collection. The IDF stated that the filmmakers omitted critical professional figures involved in the operational process, such as legal advisors and commanders responsible for approving strikes and minimizing civilian harm. The army also argued that the film completely ignores the root cause of civilian casualties: Hamas's deliberate strategy of embedding itself within the civilian population.

The IDF criticized the film's title, explaining that "collateral damage" is an international professional term used to assess the legality of an attack and minimize civilian harm, but the film absurdly presents it as evidence of indifference. Regarding testimonies about soldiers' psychological distress, the IDF noted that the moral weight is real and reflects the seriousness of decision-making, but does not constitute evidence of illegal activity. The military stressed that, contrary to the film's claims, the IDF investigates hundreds of cases of unintentional civilian harm and operates in accordance with international law. "The tragic consequences of wars do not justify distorting facts," the IDF concluded, labeling the film a simplistic manifesto driven by a clear agenda.