The documentary film NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, details how the Israeli military used artificial intelligence systems to target and kill Palestinians in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Based on interviews with 24 intelligence officers and soldiers conducted on Tel Aviv rooftops, the film examines a military strategy focused on quantitative destruction rather than individual targets.
AI Systems and Mass Surveillance in Gaza Bombings
Intelligence personnel interviewed in the documentary describe an operational environment that functioned like a “factory” for efficient bombing. According to the soldiers, mass surveillance tools allowed the military to hack and monitor mobile phones, capturing domestic scenes—such as a crying baby or a television playing—before granting authorization to strike.
Filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor chose the title NAZA, an acronym for the Hebrew term nezak agavi meaning collateral damage, to reflect how human casualties were categorized during the campaign. Testimonies reveal that attacks were frequently executed while targets were at home with their families, with thresholds allowing hundreds of civilian deaths for a single prominent Hamas member.
Festival Reception and Backlash in Israel
The documentary received a 25-minute standing ovation and won a jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. However, the project drew intense domestic condemnation within Israel, where public criticism of military operations faces severe hostility. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to target the filmmakers harshly, while Culture Minister Miki Zohar announced steps to revoke their citizenship.
Activists gathered outside the home of co-director Rachel Szor to demand severe retribution, forcing both filmmakers into hiding. The material largely echoes prior reporting published by Abraham in +972 Magazine, which detailed the expansion of AI-assisted targeting parameters and the destruction of infrastructure to render the Gaza Strip uninhabitable.
Soldier Testimonies on Ethics and Remote Warfare
The 24 anonymous intelligence workers interviewed in NAZA describe varying psychological responses to their roles in remote warfare. Some soldiers recounted viewing the operations like a video game or expressed pride in completing missions with their teams, while others felt detached as technical analysts performing a minor function within a larger apparatus.
Other participants expressed profound regret and drew historical parallels. One soldier questioned how populations historically could remain compliant during atrocities, stating that they now understood the dynamic after participating in the Gaza campaign. When asked directly by the interviewers if the military action constituted genocide, the soldier answered affirmatively.
Global Release Plans and Denial of Allegations
The Israeli military has rejected the allegations presented by the soldiers in the documentary. Despite domestic opposition, NAZA is scheduled for theatrical release across dozens of international territories, including Dutch film theaters. The filmmakers plan to make the project available online for free in November to ensure viewership within Israel, where they argue widespread denial shields ongoing military actions from public accountability.
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor conducted their interviews with 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers at night on rooftops in Tel Aviv. This method allowed the sources to remain anonymous and speak freely about remote warfare logistics without immediate identification by military authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Documentary NAZA
What does the title NAZA mean?
The title is an acronym for the Hebrew phrase nezak agavi, which translates to collateral damage. The filmmakers use it to describe how civilian casualties were designated within the military apparatus.
Where was the film screened?
The documentary premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a 25-minute standing ovation and a jury prize, before rolling out in international film theaters.
How did Israeli officials respond to the filmmakers?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the directors and promised severe repercussions, Culture Minister Miki Zohar initiated proceedings to revoke their citizenship, and protesters gathered outside co-director Rachel Szor’s residence.