Gaza Documentary Backlash
Israeli Filmmakers and Rights Groups Defend Award-Winning Gaza Documentary Amid State Threats
Anonymous
Key Points
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The film’s title refers to a military-intelligence acronym used to indicate the number of civilians expected to be killed in an airstrike. Co-director Yuval Abraham said the documentary argues that civilian deaths result from systemic operational frameworks rather than isolated mistakes.
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The Israel Defense Forces said it was investigating whether confidential information had been leaked to the filmmakers and invited Abraham and Szor to allow IDF representatives to view the full documentary and respond to its allegations.
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The directors faced additional criticism from other Israeli political figures: former prime minister Naftali Bennett called the documentary a “horrific blood libel,” while former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman described the filmmakers as “haters of Israel.”
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Berlin Film Festival director Tricia Tuttle defended the filmmakers, saying artists must be free to critically examine the world and that in a democracy the response to art should be “dialogue and scrutiny, not intimidation or punishment by the state.”
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The documentary was developed from investigative reporting published from 2023 to 2025 by +972 Magazine, Local Call and The Guardian, and was scheduled to screen at the San Sebastián film festival after Venice.
More than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers and industry figures have rallied behind directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor as their documentary
The film examines Israeli military operations in Gaza using testimony from Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Culture Minister Miki Zohar have condemned the filmmakers, with authorities threatening citizenship revocation and investigations into possible leaks of classified information CPJ. The documentary premiered at Venice Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize and received a standing ovation.
What NAZA Reveals About Civilian Casualties
The film's title is a military-intelligence acronym indicating the number of civilians expected to die in an airstrike Al Jazeera. Co-director Abraham argues the documentary shows that civilian deaths stem from systemic operational frameworks, not isolated mistakes. The investigation drew from reporting by +972 Magazine, Local Call, and The Guardian published between 2023 and 2025.
Government Threats and Accusations of Treason
Israeli authorities have discussed revoking the directors' citizenship and investigating potential breaches of allegiance Jerusalem Post. Prime Minister Netanyahu threatened to revoke citizenship for anyone defaming Israeli soldiers and increase defamation damages by up to 20 times. The Israel Defense Forces invited the filmmakers to allow military representatives to view the full documentary and respond to allegations.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called the film a
Protests Outside Directors' Homes Escalate
Dozens of far-right protesters gathered outside Rachel Szor's parents' home on consecutive nights, organized by pro-government figure Mordechai David Times of Israel. Some demonstrators demanded the filmmaker be hanged over the documentary's portrayal of the war in Gaza. The protests marked an unprecedented campaign of intimidation against the filmmakers.
International Film Community Defends Artistic Freedom
Berlin Film Festival director Tricia Tuttle defended the filmmakers, arguing that artists must examine the world critically. In democracies, the proper response to art is
The Committee to Protect Journalists and 10 international press freedom organizations called on Israel to protect the safety and fundamental rights of the filmmakers CPJ. The documentary is scheduled to screen at the San Sebastián film festival following its Venice premiere.
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