Full Breakdown
Documentary “NAZA” Accuses Israeli Military of AI-Driven Civilian Killing; Israel Denies Claims
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The documentary “NAZA”, directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in early September 2026. The 80-minute film presents testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence insiders who describe an artificial-intelligence system, dubbed “Lavender,” used to identify and strike civilian-occupied homes in Gaza.
Background & Context
Israel’s war in Gaza, launched after the October 7 2023 Hamas attacks, has resulted in extensive civilian casualties and the destruction of most housing. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and 174,000 injured since the conflict began. The war has also prompted a wave of investigative reporting on Israeli targeting practices, including earlier work by +972 Magazine, Local Call and the Guardian between 2023 and 2025.
Data & Statistics
- Gaza Health Ministry (cited by AP) – 73,422 Palestinians killed.
- JPost cites 73,500 deaths.
- Al Jazeera cites about 73,000 deaths.
These differing figures are all attributed to the Gaza Health Ministry or its own reporting; the documentary does not provide its own casualty count.
Official Statements & Responses
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: Called the film a “blood libel” and argued that Israel does not target civilians, emphasizing the sacrifices of Israeli soldiers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are letting the soldiers and the officers speak about what they did,” — Yuval Abraham, filmmaker “We are letting the soldiers and the officers speak about what they did,” — Yuval Abraham
- “We show in our film a targeting system that is, by design, targeting people in civilian spaces, in their family homes,” — Yuval Abraham “We show in our film a targeting system that is, by design, targeting people in civilian spaces, in their family homes,” — Yuval Abraham
- “We wanted to show how life in Tel Aviv goes on,” — Rachel Szor, filmmaker “We wanted to show how life in Tel Aviv goes on,” — Rachel Szor
- “When it comes to ‘pressing the red button,’ only a person can do it,” — an Israeli military official “When it comes to ‘pressing the red button,’ only a person can do it,” — an Israeli military official
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Casualty numbers vary between 73,000, 73,422 and 73,500, all attributed to the Gaza Health Ministry but reported differently by AP, JPost and Al Jazeera.
- AI involvement: The documentary’s interviewees claim AI identified targets, while the Israeli military asserts that all strike decisions required human approval. No independent verification of the “Lavender” system’s operational details is provided in the sources.
What’s Next
The film will be screened for the remainder of the Venice Festival, after which it is expected to be distributed internationally. Israeli officials have indicated they will continue to contest the documentary’s claims, and the debate over AI-assisted targeting is likely to surface in forthcoming UN and human-rights inquiries.