The Israeli military has issued a statement regarding the documentary 'NAZA,' which has generated significant discussion in Israel. The film, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in mid-September and received a 25-minute standing ovation along with the Special Jury Prize, has been described by the Israeli military as presenting a 'distorted' portrayal of its operations.
Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar criticized the filmmakers, Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, calling their work 'treason against the state' and suggested revoking their citizenship. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also expressed strong disapproval of the documentary.
In its multi-page statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rejected the film's allegations regarding its conduct during the war in Gaza, claiming that the filmmakers presented a 'distorted, misleading and disingenuous picture.' The IDF stated that the film is based on 'substantial factual errors' and 'manipulative misrepresentations of reality.'
The 80-minute documentary features interviews with 24 anonymous military and intelligence personnel discussing internal procedures and decision-making processes related to target selection in the Gaza Strip. According to these interviewees, high civilian casualty estimates were sometimes factored into these decisions. The IDF, however, denies these claims, asserting that it has never planned attacks while anticipating high civilian casualties and that human oversight has always been involved in target selection.
The military also criticized the film for omitting key facts, such as the role of military legal advisors and commanders in authorizing attacks and measures taken to protect civilians. Additionally, the IDF contends that the film does not adequately address the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages.
Human rights organizations and a UN commission have accused Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza, with health authorities in Gaza reporting at least 74,000 Palestinian deaths since the onset of the conflict.
During the awards ceremony in Venice, co-director Yuval Abraham emphasized the importance of acknowledging crimes to prevent their continuation, stating, 'That is why it's really, really especially important to us that Israelis watch this film.'
The term 'NAZA' is derived from the Hebrew 'Nezek Agavi,' meaning collateral damage, which is reportedly used in the military to refer to estimated civilian casualties in attacks.
Numerous human rights organizations, including the Israeli group B'Tselem, have voiced support for the filmmakers. Following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, 'NAZA' is now being screened in theaters worldwide.