The award-winning documentary NAZA has become a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film presents 24 clandestine interviews with Israeli military and intelligence personnel who describe how an AI-assisted surveillance system was used during the Gaza war, knowingly targeting Hamas operatives while accepting massive civilian loss. Its title originates from a Hebrew military abbreviation for “collateral damage,” a euphemism that the film scrutinises.
At the Venice International Film Festival the documentary received a 25-minute standing ovation – the longest in the event’s history – and secured the special jury prize. Since its debut, the film has been screened in more than 50 countries, with plans for free online distribution. The revelations have triggered a sweeping legal and political offensive from Israel’s highest offices.
Prime Minister’s directive to expose interviewees
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authored a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, IDF chief Eyal Zamir and Shin Bet head David Zini demanding an urgent operation to uncover the identities of every soldier, officer, and intelligence analyst appearing in NAZA. The prime minister called for the opening of criminal investigations on grounds of “serious information-security offences, criminal defamation, and harm to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests.”
In parallel, the defense establishment issued a ten-page rebuttal, asserting that the testimonies were based on “more than 100 sources” and that any prosecution would require proof of actual security breaches or the disclosure of classified material. Military advocate general Itai Ofir indicated that disciplinary measures remained possible even if criminal charges could not be substantiated.
Government attacks on the filmmakers
Beyond the legal petition, the Israeli administration has labelled the co-directors as “traitors” and threatened to strip them of citizenship. Public demonstrations have taken place outside the parents’ home of Rachel Szor in Savyon, with chants demanding the death penalty. Graffiti portraying the duo as gun-pointed figures appeared in Ashdod, while another mural was later altered to read “heroes”.
Online, the state has sponsored a rival video project styled after NAZA in an attempt to discredit the original findings. Israeli attorney and reservist Ariel Averbuch described the effort as an “offensive move” intended to divert international attention from alleged war crimes.
Contentious revelations inside the film
One of the most controversial segments introduces a covert unit nicknamed “Bibi’s Department” – a team that allegedly operated directly for the prime minister. Interviewees claim the unit compiled compromising personal data on Palestinian survivors, including details of romantic and homosexual relationships, to pressure them and obstruct petitions before the International Criminal Court. According to a former intelligence officer, this blackmail helped pull at least one Hague case.
Another stark admission details the operational calculus that permitted up to 20 civilian deaths per target, with one interviewee recalling a planned strike that could have killed as many as 500 Palestinians. The Israeli army has denied that such a target was ever approved.
International reaction and press-freedom concerns
The move to expose the documentary’s sources has drawn condemnation from global journalist organisations. The European Federation of Journalists described the orders as “a blatant act of intimidation” that threatens the core principle of protecting journalistic sources under international human-rights law. Critics argue that the state’s actions aim to silence dissent and obscure alleged crimes against humanity.
Film festivals and cultural bodies worldwide have voiced solidarity with Abraham and Szor, reaffirming the right of creators to explore “difficult and urgent subjects” without fear of retribution. The controversy underscores a widening clash between state security narratives and investigative media seeking accountability for the Gaza war.
