Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Gaza documentary "NAZA" a "shocking incitement," claiming it promotes antisemitism. Directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film won an award at the Venice Film Festival for alleging that Israel routinely planned civilian deaths during its military campaign in Gaza. Netanyahu's statement followed a criticism from the Israeli military chief, who labeled the documentary as false accusations against IDF soldiers and commanders.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, criticized a new documentary titled "NAZA" that won a special prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, alleges that mass civilian deaths were planned into targeting decisions during conflicts in Gaza. Abraham stated that acknowledging these crimes is crucial for preventing their recurrence.
The documentary's title derives from an Israeli military term referring to expected "collateral casualties." Netanyahu described the film as part of global antisemitic incitement and unacceptable when it comes from within Israel. The Israeli military chief, Eyal Zamir, also condemned the documentary, saying it attacks the state of Israel.
The Venice Film Festival screened the documentary on Thursday, where it received a 25-minute standing ovation. Netanyahu's statement was posted on Telegram on Monday, September 14.
Written for “Netanyahu Criticizes Gaza Documentary” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 1 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 9241: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-14
Netanyahu says Gaza documentary 'NAZA' is 'shocking incitement'
asserted
documentary → say → ?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a new documentary film which alleges that mass civilian deaths were routinely built into targeting decisions in Gaza was part of a wave of global incitement against Jews.
asserted
deaths → say → Jews
"NAZA", directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday and received a 25-minute standing ovation when it was screened on Thursday.
asserted
it → direct → Thursday
The film takes its title from an Israeli military term for expected "collateral casualties" and is built around anonymous interviews with intelligence officers and soldiers involved in the war.
asserted
film → take → war
We are fighting global antisemitic incitement and when it comes from within us it is intolerable," Netanyahu said in a video posted on Telegram.
asserted
Netanyahu → fight → Telegram
"And now two Israeli directors portraying the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) as war criminals receive applause at the Venice festival."
asserted
directors → portray → festival
Netanyahu's comments followed a statement from the Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, who said the film constituted an attack on the state of Israel.
asserted
film → follow → Israel
"Based on what has been published thus far, this is not a film offering criticism of the IDF, nor is it an attempt to establish the truth.
asserted
it → base → truth
It is based on blood libels, deliberate distortions of reality, and grave, false accusations against IDF soldiers and commanders," Zamir said.
asserted
Zamir → base → soldiers
The military said that Zamir has instructed the Military Advocate General, whose legal powers are confined within the military, "to examine and advance possible legal measures concerning the film and those involved in it."
asserted
powers → say → it
The filmmakers could not immediately be reached for comment.
uncertain
filmmakers → reach → comment
"We believe that the denial of a crime is what helps it persist and this is why it is especially important for us that Israelis watch this film, it is our country that is doing these crimes," Abraham said in his acceptance speech on Saturday.
asserted
Abraham → believe → Saturday
Gaza health authorities say more than 73,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Israel's military campaign that has left much of Gaza in ruins.
asserted
that → say → ruins
The war was triggered by Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians.
asserted
most → trigger → them
Israel says it has gone to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties as it battles Hamas militants who embed in sites such as hospitals, schools and shelters.
asserted
who → say → hospitals
Hamas denies using Gaza's civilians as human shields.
asserted
Hamas → deny → shields
