Israeli Whistleblowers Expose Military Killing Machine: Like a Video Game

The Allegations and Artificial Intelligence Systems in “NAZA”

The documentary premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where directors Szor and Abraham received the jury’s special prize. According to the film’s sources, automated and AI-based systems—including a tool referred to as “Lavender” and another called “Where’s Daddy?”—analyzed mass intelligence data, including information derived from thousands of hacked mobile phones, to identify and track targets. Anonymous sources cited by The Guardian stated that military authorizations permitted up to 500 civilian deaths to eliminate a single Hamas member, while previous investigations by the outlets +972 and Local Call cited thresholds allowing 15 to 20 civilian deaths for low-ranking operatives and over 100 for senior commanders.

Director Yuval Abraham stated to The Guardian that intelligence officers possessed detailed knowledge of who occupied the targeted buildings, noting that surveillance of telecommunications networks allowed personnel to listen to phone calls inside residences before executing strikes. One anonymous source in the documentary compared the remote planning process from Tel Aviv, located 70 kilometers from Gaza, to a video game. The title “NAZA” reportedly corresponds to an intelligence term denoting expected civilian casualties resulting from a strike.

IDF Categorical Rejections and Official Israeli Response

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) categorically rejected the documentary’s allegations in a statement to VG, questioning the credibility and access of the anonymous sources. The military asserted that AI applications serve solely as analytical support tools rather than autonomous decision-makers, emphasizing that human operators execute all target selections and authorizations in compliance with international law. The IDF further stated that Hamas operates among civilians.

Official reactions within Israel have been severe. According to The Times of Israel, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir requested an examination of potential legal measures against the documentary and its creators, alongside a military security investigation into whether classified operational information was transferred to the filmmakers. Culture Minister Miki Zohar publicly demanded that directors Abraham and Szor be stripped of their Israeli citizenship, accusing them of treason, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the film as shocking.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the documentary “NAZA”? “NAZA” is a British documentary directed by Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham that premiered at the Venice Film Festival, featuring anonymous testimony from 24 Israeli intelligence and military officers regarding military targeting practices in Gaza.
• How do the filmmakers claim AI was used? According to the documentary, AI systems analyzed mass data, including mobile phone intercepts, to link individuals to specific buildings and recommend targets for airstrikes.
• What is the position of the Israeli military? The IDF categorically rejects the allegations, stating that AI tools are strictly support mechanisms and that all operational strike decisions are made by human personnel in accordance with the laws of armed conflict.
• What casualties have been reported in the conflict? Health authorities in Gaza report that over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and 147,000 injured since the conflict began following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths in Israel.

Explore our related coverage on Middle East conflict reporting and the ethics of artificial intelligence in military operations for deeper analysis.