Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary, “NAZA,” shed light on Israel’s alleged utilization of AI-enhanced military technology to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a remarkable 24.5-minute standing ovation, setting a new record at the festival. The documentary is based on the accounts of 24 Israeli military insiders, presented anonymously.
Video footage shared on social media captured the emotional reactions of the filmmakers, with Yuval Abraham seen wiping away tears as the audience applauded fervently. This surpasses previous records at the festival, including the 24-minute ovation for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” last year and the 22-minute ovation for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” at Cannes in 2006.
Kaouther Ben Hania, director of “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha were also present during the premiere. Some attendees unfurled Palestinian and Lebanese flags as a symbolic gesture following the screening.
Filmed clandestinely over a three-year period in Tel Aviv, “NAZA” features interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities remain undisclosed. The documentary alleges the use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to identify targets affiliated with Hamas, leading to airstrikes on civilian residences, regardless of the presence of non-combatants, including women and children.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement refuting the claims made in the film, criticizing the reliance on anonymous testimonies that cannot be verified. The IDF asserted that human decision-makers are solely responsible for strike operations and emphasized their efforts to minimize civilian casualties during military actions.
Named after an acronym used by the Israeli military to reference civilian casualties, “NAZA” serves as a companion piece to Abraham and Szor’s previous documentary, “No Other Land,” which won an Academy Award in 2025.
Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, “NAZA” has garnered attention for its controversial subject matter. Glazer faced backlash following his remarks against the Israel-Hamas conflict during his 2024 Oscar acceptance speech for “The Zone of Interest.”
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant casualties. When Hamas-led militants launched an attack on Israel in October 2023, over 1,200 individuals were killed, and 251 were taken captive. Subsequently, more than 73,422 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza during Israel’s military operations, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The casualties include women and children, comprising half of the total.
Yuval Abraham emphasized the ongoing nature of the conflict, stating that the film exposes a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents. He stressed the importance of revealing the internal workings of the conflict through firsthand testimonies.
The documentary continues to spark discussion and debate surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the impact of military operations on civilians in the region.
