Israeli politicians and senior military leaders have sharply condemned the documentary NAZA and issued threats against its producers following the film's premiere and Special Jury Prize win at the 2026 Venice Film Festival.
Directed by Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, NAZA examines alleged Israeli military targeting practices in Gaza. Co-produced with The Guardian, the film is built around interviews with 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence personnel. It explores systems said to involve artificial intelligence and surveillance in selecting targets.
The title NAZA refers to a Hebrew military acronym used for expected civilian “collateral damage” in airstrikes. Interviewees describe operations that allegedly anticipated high numbers of civilian casualties, including claims of significant civilian deaths in pursuit of individual targets. The film received a prolonged standing ovation of approximately 24-25 minutes at its Venice premiere before winning the Special Jury Prize.
Abraham and Szor previously co-directed No Other Land (alongside Palestinian filmmakers), which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025.
Political backlash
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar led the strongest official response. He described the film as “vile” and said it “constitutes treason” or a “betrayal of the state.” In posts on X, Zohar declared he would “act immediately to revoke the Israeli citizenship of these despicable creators for treason against the state,” accusing them of self-hatred and of harming Israel to gain applause from “antisemites around the world.” He later submitted a formal request to the Population and Immigration Authority to examine the possibility of revocation under Israeli citizenship law, which permits such action for breach of allegiance. The process requires involvement of their interior minister and judicial review; it cannot be carried out unilaterally by the culture minister. Zohar also called for an investigation into how the film's materials were obtained and whether any actions amounted to aiding the enemy during wartime.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the directors “a disgrace and an embarrassment to the entire people of Israel” and told them to “go away,” adding that Hamas would welcome them.
Criticism came from across the political spectrum. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett labelled the film a “horrific blood libel.” Former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman and others described the creators as “Israel haters.” Centrist figure and former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot said the documentary presented a “distorted” picture marked by “moral blindness.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly called the film “shocking” and linked it to wider anti-Semitic incitement.
Military response
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered a formal review and instructed the Military Advocate General to examine possible legal measures against the film and those involved. He characterised NAZA as based on “blood libels,” “deliberate distortions of reality,” and “grave, false accusations” against soldiers and commanders, rather than legitimate criticism. The IDF has rejected the film's allegations, stating that decisions on strikes are made by human personnel and that the anonymous testimonies could not be verified. It has also ordered an investigation into the potential leaking of classified material.
Context and support
Abraham addressed the domestic criticism in his Venice acceptance remarks, noting that Israeli politicians and journalists were attacking and denying the film without having seen it. He emphasised the importance of documenting events for audiences in Israel, Europe and the United States. Some reports indicated that the filmmakers had received threats, though specific details were not publicly detailed.
In response to the official attacks, more than 200 Israeli filmmakers signed a petition defending Abraham and Szor. The signatories, who include prominent directors, argued that the central role of art and journalism is to hold a mirror up to the society in which they operate.
The controversy underscores deep divisions within Israel over coverage of the Gaza war, freedom of expression, and the limits of criticism of military conduct. Zohar's citizenship threat faces significant legal hurdles and is not immediately enforceable. The IDF's legal review and any potential actions against the producers or their sources remained ongoing as of mid-September 2026. Meanwhile, NAZA continues to attract international attention for its claims regarding targeting systems and civilian casualties.