The premiere of the documentary “NAZA” at the Venice International Film Festival on September 10, 2026, has brought renewed scrutiny to military targeting practices in Gaza. Directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film draws on anonymous testimony from 24 members of Israel’s military and intelligence services to examine how artificial intelligence and threshold systems have shaped air strikes during the Israel-Hamas war.
AI Targeting Systems and the “NAZA” Threshold
The documentary’s title derives from “nezek agavi,” a Hebrew acronym for collateral damage that functions as the Israeli military’s threshold system for acceptable civilian casualties in Gaza. According to the filmmakers and anonymous military testimony featured in the project, mass civilian deaths were routinely built into targeting decisions. Yuval Abraham told reporters that the targeting system was designed to focus on people in civilian spaces and family homes, with some operations allowing high casualty thresholds that destroyed entire neighborhoods.
Intelligence officers interviewed in the film described an AI-assisted system that utilized data gathered from thousands of hacked mobile phones to identify targets. Officers stated that automated or monitored phrases, such as a child’s phone picking up the words “daddy’s home,” could trigger an air strike. The film also addresses strikes in Israeli-designated no-go zones near aid distribution centres, where locations were not disclosed to residents.
Context and Comparative Casualties of the Conflict
The military campaign in Gaza was triggered by an October 7, 2023, attack led by Hamas militants from Gaza, which resulted in the murders of 1,200 people—mostly civilians—in southern Israel, alongside the abduction of approximately 250 hostages. In the subsequent conflict, Gaza health authorities report that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel maintains that it goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and asserts that Hamas uses civilians as human shields in densely populated areas, a claim that Hamas denies.
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The United Nations reported that more than 400 Palestinians were killed while seeking aid. While Israel acknowledged that civilians had been harmed at distribution centres and stated it had amended its rules of engagement, the documentary highlights a stark physical and psychological distance between the attackers and the targets.
Did You Know? The title “NAZA” comes from an acronym for the Hebrew phrase “nezek agavi,” which translates to “collateral damage” and serves as the Israeli military’s threshold system for acceptable civilian casualties in strikes on Gaza.
Political Backlash and Streaming Plans
Following its 25-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival—by far the longest of the event—”NAZA” drew sharp condemnation from the Israeli government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to revoke the citizenship of its directors, while government officials dismissed the documentary as containing deliberate distortions of reality.
In response to the intense public interest and political backlash, the filmmakers announced that “NAZA” will be made available to stream for free to the public beginning in November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the title “NAZA” mean?
The title comes from an acronym for the Hebrew phrase “nezek agavi,” meaning collateral damage, which represents the Israeli military’s threshold system for acceptable civilian casualties in air strikes.
Who directed the documentary “NAZA”?
The film was directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who previously won an Oscar for their 2024 documentary “No Other Land.”
How will the public be able to watch “NAZA”?
In response to widespread interest and political backlash following its Venice Film Festival premiere, the filmmakers announced that the documentary will be available to stream for free starting in November 2026.
How do you think artistic documentaries like “NAZA” influence global perspectives on modern automated warfare?