Why Is Israel Angry With 'Naza' Documentary? Controversy Behind The Film On Gaza Explained

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Why Is Israel Angry With 'Naza' Documentary? Controversy Behind The Film On Gaza Explained

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Last Updated: September 17, 2026, 14:23 IST

Titled Naza, the 80-minute documentary is directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. It has sparked a massive controversy.

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Naza film on Gaza war sparks Israeli anger.

An Israeli documentary about the war in Gaza has become a major controversy around the world. Titled Naza, the 80-minute documentary is directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who previously worked on the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’.

While the film is receiving acclaim at the 2026 Venice Film Festival, it is also facing fierce criticism from Israeli political and military officials. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and received a reported 25-minute standing ovation following its screening. However, its reception in Israel has been dramatically different. Officials have accused the filmmakers of damaging Israel’s reputation and have also threatened legal action against them.

But what is the documentary about and how is it controversial? Let’s find out.

What Is The Naza Documentary About?

As reported by the BBC, Naza is an 80-minute documentary about Israel’s military operations in Gaza through interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel. The documentary focuses on allegations surrounding the Israeli military’s use of artificial intelligence, mass surveillance and automated systems to identify potential targets in Gaza. The people interviewed by the filmmakers are presented anonymously, with their identities protected.

According to the official synopsis of the film, it “details the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza" during the war.

The title of the film, i.e. Naza, also comes from a Hebrew military term referring to “collateral damage". Reportedly it has been specifically used for the expected number of civilians who could be killed during a particular military strike. The BBC report also mentions that one of the men interviewed in the documentary claims there was the approval for an attack to kill 500 people for “one human target", an allegation the IDF said was “completely false".

The Gaza documentary “NAZA" earned a massive 24.5-minute #VeniceFilmFestival ovation as the crowd cheered and waved Palestinian flags.This marks the longest-ever standing ovation at Venice, beating the 22-minute ovation for “The Voice of Hind Rajab" last year, and perhaps the… pic.twitter.com/WuE0Lr7ZFi — Variety (@Variety) September 10, 2026

Why Is The Film Being Called Controversial?

The controversy over the film intensified after the film’s success at the Venice Film Festival. Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar have accused Abraham and Szor of what he described as “treason" and called for their Israeli citizenship to be revoked. He has asked the authorities “to investigate how the materials were obtained, who is behind them, and whether in the process of obtaining or publishing them, actions were taken that amount to aiding the enemy during wartime".

Zohar has subsequently asked Israel’s Shin Bet security service to investigate whether Hamas had any involvement in providing material for the documentary. “The claims presented in the film are false and distorted, and I categorically reject the attempt to portray IDF soldiers and the State of Israel as perpetrators of intentional crimes," he added in his letter.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also condemned the documentary, describing it as “shocking incitement" and accusing it of contributing to antisemitism. “The first, to revoke ​the citizenship of anyone who defames (Israeli) soldiers, and the second to hit them in their pockets and ​increase the statutory damages for defamation they can be sued for by 20 times," he said in a ‌video message.

What Has The Israeli Military Said?

The Israel Defense Forces have also strongly rejected the film’s allegations. Recently, IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir reacted to the documentary and accused it of defaming the military. He described the film as containing what he called “blood libels" and “deliberate distortions of reality" and further ordered officials to examine possible legal action against the makers.

The military has also questioned the decision to rely on anonymous sources, arguing that the identities and claims of the people interviewed cannot independently be verified.

The IDF has specifically rejected an allegation featured in reports about the documentary that a strike was approved with the expectation that up to 500 civilians could be killed. The military said it had never planned, approved or carried out such a strike and maintains that its operations are conducted in accordance with international law.

“According to the reports that have emerged so far, this is not a film criticizing the IDF and is not an attempt to ascertain the truth. It is based on blood libels, deliberate distortion of reality, and false and serious accusations against IDF soldiers and commanders," Zamir said in a statement.

What Are The Filmmakers Saying?

Despite the controversy, the filmmakers have defended the documentary and said its purpose is to make Israeli society confront allegations about the military’s conduct in Gaza.Yuval Abraham has argued that it is particularly important for Israelis to see the film because many of the people interviewed are Israeli military and intelligence personnel speaking in Hebrew.

“This is a ‘Guardian’ film, made in cooperation with a leading publication, with a staff of editors who had access to the raw materials," he said, as quoted by The Times Of Israel. Asked if he hopes to screen the movie in Israel, Abraham shared, “That’s the goal. We really want to. We’ll do everything possible so that it’s broadcast as widely as possible in Israel."

The Guardian, which was involved in producing the documentary, has defended the filmmakers and described the backlash against them as an attack on journalism and artistic freedom. It has said the film is based on years of investigative work and testimonies from confidential sources.

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Quick Answers Powered by Ask News18 What is the Israeli documentary Naza about? Naza is an 80-minute documentary directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor that details Israel's military operations in Gaza. It focuses on allegations regarding the military's use of artificial intelligence, mass surveillance, and automated systems to identify targets, drawing on anonymous interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel. The film's title comes from a Hebrew military term referring to "collateral damage" or the expected number of civilians who could be killed during a specific strike. Why are Israeli officials criticizing the documentary Naza? Israeli officials accuse the filmmakers of damaging Israel's reputation, defaming the military, and spreading "blood libels" and "deliberate distortions of reality". Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar accused the creators of "treason," called for their citizenship to be revoked, and asked the Shin Bet to investigate potential Hamas involvement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the film as "shocking incitement" that contributes to antisemitism, while the IDF rejected its claims and threatened legal action. How did the IDF respond to the documentary's claim about a strike targeting 500 people? The IDF strongly rejected the allegation featured in the documentary that a military strike was approved with the expectation that up to 500 civilians could be killed for "one human target". The military stated that this claim is "completely false" and maintained that it has never planned, approved, or carried out such an attack. Additionally, the IDF questioned the film's reliance on anonymous sources, arguing that the identities and claims of the interviewed personnel cannot be independently verified. Powered by Ask News18

About the Author Chirag Sehgal Chirag Sehgal works as a Chief Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. He has a strong expertise in content creation, digital storytelling and social media strategy. Skilled in covering ce... Read More

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First Published: September 17, 2026, 14:22 IST