Full Breakdown
NAZA documentary sparks political firestorm in Israel
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The documentary NAZA—directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor—premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 10, 2026 and won the Special Jury Prize after a 25-minute standing ovation. The film, produced by *The Guardian* and JW Films, presents anonymous testimonies from 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers who describe a targeting system that, according to the filmmakers, accepts large numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza. Within days, Israeli leaders called for the directors’ citizenship to be revoked and for legislation to punish “defamation” of the Israel Defense Forces. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on September 16, 2026 two bills: one to strip citizenship from anyone who “defames” Israeli soldiers and another to increase statutory damages for such defamation twenty-fold. Culture Minister Miki Zohar and IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Zamir echoed the calls.
Background & Context
The war that began with the Oct. 7 attack has produced more than 70,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Israeli estimates, and has been framed by officials as a response to Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields. Earlier reporting by *The Guardian*, +972 Magazine and Local Call documented AI-assisted targeting tools that estimate civilian presence. A 2025 Molad study found only 3 % of Channel 12’s war coverage mentioned Gaza’s civilian crisis.
Official Statements & Responses
- The IDF “categorically rejects” the film’s allegations and says the anonymous sources “cannot be verified.” It stresses that targeting decisions are made by humans and that it strives to minimize civilian harm.
- Netanyahu framed the legislative proposals as necessary to counter the “immense damage” done to soldiers by the film.
- Zohar called for an interior-minister investigation and said the directors should have their citizenship revoked for “treason.”
- Zamir ordered a legal probe into the film’s sources and warned the IDF would use “every tool at our disposal” against those spreading “lies.”
Criticism & Opposition
- Opposition leader Yair Golan condemned the film and accused Netanyahu of using it to deflect criticism of the government’s handling of the Oct. 7 attack.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Casualty figures: The trailer cites an approval for a strike that could kill 500 civilians, while the IDF asserts no operation has ever been planned with such a projected death toll.
- AI involvement: Abraham and Szor claim the targeting system is AI-driven; the IDF maintains AI only assists data collection and that final strike decisions are made by human commanders.
- Source verification: Filmmakers say interviewee identities were verified internally, but the IDF and several journalists argue anonymity prevents independent corroboration.
What’s Next
- The two bills are slated for parliamentary debate before the October 27 election.
- NAZA will open in U.S. theaters on September 30, 2026, expand to Los Angeles on October 9, 2026, and begin screenings in Dutch cinemas on October 1, 2026.
- Legal actions against the filmmakers and any Israeli citizens who provided material remain under investigation by the IDF and Shin Bet.