Gaza film draws fierce backlash in Israel
JERUSALEM — The award-winning documentary NAZA, named after the Hebrew military acronym for "collateral damage" and accusing the Israeli army of mass civilian killing in Gaza, has triggered a fierce backlash in Israel in recent days.
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir called its allegations "blood libels" and ordered legal officials to examine possible action and investigate whether classified information had been leaked.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the film "outrageous" and accused it of contributing to what he described as global "antisemitic incitement".
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar accused the filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of "treason against the state" and threatened sanctions against institutions that screen the film.
The rage spilled onto social media, where the filmmakers faced a torrent of anger and abuse, including death threats.
Analysts say the heated political climate ahead of Israel's October election has stoked the backlash.
By contrast, when Abraham and Szor premiered the film at the Venice International Film Festival on Sept 10, it received a nearly 25-minute standing ovation and later won the Special Jury Prize.
Abraham told Israel's Channel 13 he feared he might not be able to return home, but said it was "critical" for Israelis to see the film and learn about the military's actions in Gaza. He said efforts were underway to distribute it in Israel.
The 80-minute film, produced by The Guardian and directed by Abraham and Szor, is based on interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and military intelligence whistleblowers involved in Israel's operations in Gaza. They were filmed at night on rooftops overlooking Tel Aviv, speaking anonymously to protect their identities.
System examined
"NAZA", a Hebrew shorthand, refers to the number of civilians expected to be killed or injured in a strike. The documentary examines the systems used to select and approve targets in Gaza, including AI-assisted tools, and alleges that expected civilian deaths were routinely calculated before attacks were authorized.
An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said Tuesday that the military "categorically rejects these allegations", questioning the identities and roles of the anonymous interviewees. The spokesperson said strike decisions are made "by human personnel only", not AI, and that the military operates under international law and investigates suspected violations.
The film's reception has exposed the gulf between perceptions of the Gaza war inside Israel and abroad. In Israel, the war continues to be viewed widely through the trauma of the Hamas-led attack on Oct 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
On Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the recovery of the "remains of what appears to be entire families" from sites pulverized by Israeli attacks raised new concerns about war crimes. More than 8,000 people are believed to remain buried beneath Gaza's rubble, he said.
Meanwhile, US media reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration was set to approve a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel, including 40,000 one-ton bombs. A US State Department spokesperson said that the department does not comment on proposed arms sales until they have been formally notified to Congress.
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