Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary “NAZA” unveiled at the Venice Film Festival, depicting Israel’s purported deployment of AI-enhanced military technologies to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza, garnered a remarkable 24.5-minute standing ovation during its world premiere.
Footage shared on social platforms captured the Israeli filmmakers’ emotional reactions, with Abraham seen wiping away tears as the audience applauded the film. Drawing on the testimonies of 24 anonymous Israeli military insiders, the documentary has broken records at Venice, surpassing previous ovation times for acclaimed films like “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and “Pan’s Labyrinth.”
Notable figures like “The Voice of Hind Rajab” director Kaouther Ben Hania and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha were present during the screening, alongside audience members who displayed Palestinian and Lebanese flags as a symbolic gesture.
Filmed covertly over three years in Tel Aviv, “NAZA” features interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities remain concealed. The documentary alleges the use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to identify and bomb Hamas targets, including civilian residences with women and children inside.
In response to the film’s allegations, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement refuting the claims, emphasizing that strike decisions are made solely by humans and asserting the IDF’s commitment to minimizing harm to civilians during military operations.
Titled after an Israeli military acronym for civilian casualties, “NAZA” serves as a companion piece to Abraham and Szor’s previous documentary, “No Other Land,” which received an Academy Award in 2025 for Best Documentary.
Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, “NAZA” has stirred controversy, particularly due to Glazer’s prior statements against the Israel-Hamas conflict. The film sheds light on the ongoing violence in Gaza, with Abraham highlighting the systemic nature of the situation and the film’s aim to expose the realities through insider accounts.
The film’s portrayal of the conflict resonates with the ongoing strife in the region, with over 73,422 Palestinians reportedly killed in Gaza since the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that half of all casualties are women and children, underscoring the humanitarian toll of the conflict.
Abraham emphasized that the film captures the ongoing tragedy unfolding in Gaza, shedding light on the systemic nature of the violence and the urgent need for awareness and action in the face of continued civilian suffering.
