A documentary film called NAZA, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and received critical acclaim, alleges that Israel’s military tactics in Gaza involve targeting civilians with AI systems designed to kill individuals in residential areas. The film features anonymous testimonies from 24 former Israeli military and intelligence personnel who claim attacks are approved regardless of civilian risk, contradicting official IDF statements about minimizing civilian casualties. In response, the IDF is considering legal action against the filmmakers, while supporters argue that the documentary highlights important truths about the conflict in Gaza.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, Israeli directors, won a special jury prize at the 2026 Venice Film Festival for their documentary "NAZA." The film, which received a 25-minute standing ovation at its premiere, examines AI-assisted targeting systems used by the Israeli military in Gaza that allegedly resulted in mass civilian deaths. Abraham and Szor interviewed 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers who claimed the killing of Palestinian civilians was systemic and not accidental.
However, this victory sparked intense backlash from Israeli officials. Culture Minister Miki Zohar threatened to revoke the filmmakers' citizenship for alleged treason and called on authorities to investigate how they obtained their materials, suggesting possible collaboration with enemies during wartime. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also criticized the film as part of global anti-Semitic incitement, while the military chief ordered a legal review to examine potential charges against those involved.
The documentary's win highlights deep-seated tensions over Israel's actions in Gaza and has brought international attention to alleged war crimes by Israeli forces.
Written for “Gaza Documentary Controversy” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 11 other(s) covering the same event.
Documentary alleges Israel bombs Gaza regardless of risk to civilians
NAZA got a standing ovation at the Venice festival, but the IDF is exploring legal action
asserted
IDF → allege → action
On the streets of Jerusalem, there’s no debating whether the directors of the documentary film NAZA, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, are truth-tellers or traitors.
asserted
directors → debate → film
They should be "in jail for betraying the country, betraying the army, betraying Jewish [people] all over the world,” said Revital Hershko.
asserted
Hershko → betray → world
Hershko, like many in Israel, has been watching media coverage about the film, which got a special jury prize and a 25-minute standing ovation when it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last week.
asserted
it → watch → Festival
Over roughly an hour and a half, NAZA details Israeli war tactics used in Gaza including AI systems that, by design, target wanted individuals in civilian spaces like apartment buildings — killing average Palestinians.
asserted
that → detail → Palestinians
Abraham and Szor are Israeli, prompting many to label them as lying traitors.
"I think they make a very bad damage to our country.
asserted
they → prompt → country
It's not true what they said.
asserted
they → say → what
They lie.
asserted
They → lie → ?
All the soldiers, they didn't do anything," said Dalia Shemtov, a resident of Netanya who was out with friends in Jerusalem when she overheard CBC News asking locals about the film and what they’ve heard.
asserted
they → do → what
While many of the people CBC spoke with are furious about the film, no one had seen it, since it’s still only on the festival circuit.
asserted
it → speak → circuit
It’s grabbing headlines because of the people featured — not Palestinians talking about the tens of thousands of people killed in Gaza after nearly three years of Israel's war with Hamas, but because of 24 Israeli military and intelligence personnel.
asserted
It → grab → personnel
They describe, albeit anonymously, how attacks are approved and their statements counter official lines coming from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) that it goes to great lengths to reduce the number of civilian casualties.
asserted
it → describe → casualties
The IDF has rejected the film's allegations, saying because only anonymous sources are used there is no way to verify if they have had any direct knowledge of Israeli military operations.
It has also labelled one claim from the trailer as "completely false" — in which a man says he was aware of approval for an airstrike to kill 500 people.
uncertain
he → reject → people
Although he does say he does not know exactly how many died because there was no official count.
asserted
many → say → ?
Lt.-Gen Eyal Zamir, the IDF's chief of general staff, on Monday instructed military lawyers to explore legal options against the filmmakers.
asserted
Zamir → instruct → filmmakers
The film was produced by the British newspaper the Guardian, which in a statement said it "will robustly defend" NAZA and its team "from any attacks or attempts at censorship."
asserted
it → produce → censorship
Abraham says he and Szor felt a responsibility as Israelis to use their position and abilities to bring insider testimony to light.
asserted
he → say → light
"There is a direct correlation between the silence or between the denial of the crimes and their ability to persist,” he said at a news event in Venice.
asserted
he → be → Venice
Fellow Israeli filmmaker Uri Rosenwaks has created an online petition in support of the film, calling on those "still fighting for freedom of expression" to sign.
asserted
Rosenwaks → create → expression
But the criticisms keep coming.
asserted
criticisms → come → ?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video released by his Likud Party, called the film "shocking" and said it's "intolerable" that Israel must "fight antisemitic incitement" both globally and within.
asserted
Israel → release → incitement
And a man who was held captive in Gaza for 505 days said on Instagram: "I'm angry on a level I can’t describe."
Eliya Cohen was among the 251 people kidnapped in the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, when militants crossed into Israel — killing 1,200 Israelis and foreign workers and igniting Israel's war on Hamas, which has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to officials there.
Israel committed genocide in Gaza, deliberately targeted Palestinian children: UN report
Remaining supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran tour amid backlash over Macklemore ousting
In his video, translated for CBC News, Cohen says he wants to see pictures of Abraham and Szor posted outside and "across every possible media platform, so that when they walk down the street … they should feel ashamed."
uncertain
they → hold → street
North American audiences will get to reach their own conclusions when NAZA plays at the New York Film Festival, which begins Sept. 25.
asserted
which → get → Festival
The Aporia
