Full Breakdown
NAZA Documentary: Global Rollout and Israeli Political Backlash
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The documentary NAZA—directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor—premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 10, 2026, receiving a 25-minute standing ovation and the Special Jury Prize. Produced by *The Guardian* and MK2, it will open in cinemas across 56 territories beginning September 28, 2026 (excluding Israel, the West Bank and Gaza) and will have a North American premiere at the New York Film Festival on September 26, 2026, followed by U.S. releases in New York, Los Angeles and other markets. After the theatrical run, the documentary will stream for free on *The Guardian*’s website in November.
Background & Context
NAZA builds on investigative reporting published between 2023 and 2025 by *The Guardian*, +972 Magazine and Local Call. The film presents 24 anonymously recorded testimonies from Israeli military and intelligence personnel, describing a system—referred to by the Hebrew acronym “NAZA” (*Nezek Agavi*, “collateral damage”)—that allegedly calculates acceptable civilian casualties in Gaza strikes and employs an AI tool called “Lavender” to select targets. The directors frame the work as an “obligation” to examine Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Data & Statistics
- 24 anonymous Israeli sources appear in the film.
- The title refers to a military shorthand for the number of civilians expected to be killed in a strike.
- Promotional material cites more than 73,000 deaths in Gaza, a figure reported by the Hamas-run health ministry.
- The rollout covers 56 territories with partners in Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania, Central America and the Middle East.
- A graffiti incident on September 15, 2026 in Ashdod displayed the directors’ faces with the Hebrew word “traitors,” illustrating domestic backlash.
Official Statements & Responses
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to introduce legislation stripping citizenship from individuals who “smear” IDF soldiers or “defame” the state.
- Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar called the film “vile,” accused the directors of treason and said he would act to revoke their citizenship.
- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rejected the AI-targeting claim, stating that strike decisions are made “by human personnel only” and that the allegation of a planned strike anticipating 500 civilian deaths is “completely false.”
- *The Guardian* said it has offered the film to Israeli distributors and is exploring ways to make it available in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Criticism & Opposition
Right-wing activists gathered outside Szor’s parents’ home, prompting police deployment. Protesters called for the “death penalty for traitors” and demanded demolition of the filmmakers’ family homes. In response, more than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers signed a petition defending freedom of expression, and 43 Israeli human-rights organisations issued a joint statement urging authorities to halt incitement and threats against the directors. International artists—including Ken Loach, Joshua Oppenheimer, Laura Poitras, Nan Goldin and Hanif Kureishi—expressed solidarity with Abraham and Szor.