Gaza Documentary 'NAZA' Sparks Political Storm and Threats Against Directors in Israel

The award-winning documentary "NAZA," which features anonymous military sources discussing Israel's mass killing of civilians in Gaza, has triggered a severe political firestorm in Israel. Following the film's premiere, directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and their families have faced a wave of threats and intimidation, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a legislative bill to revoke the citizenship of individuals who "defame IDF soldiers."

The controversy erupts just one month ahead of close-fought elections scheduled for October 27, 2026. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a record-breaking 25-minute ovation and was awarded the special jury prize.

"NAZA" explores Israel's AI-assisted military operations in Gaza, utilizing testimonies from 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers who spoke on condition of anonymity. The title derives from a military intelligence euphemism used to indicate the expected civilian death toll resulting from a specific airstrike. The Israeli military has firmly rejected the documentary's testimonies, asserting that it makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties and criticizing the reliance on unverified, anonymous sources.

The documentary's release has intensified nationalist sentiment in Israel, which remains deeply affected by the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that killed 1,221 people, predominantly civilians. Criticism of the military remains largely taboo within Israeli society, where mandatory service is widespread. In response to the film, Prime Minister Netanyahu posted a video on social media stating that the directors' "place is not among us."

Concurrently, protesters gathered outside the home of co-director Rachel Szor's parents in Savyon, central Israel, chanting slogans such as "You're not welcome here." The demonstration was organized by far-right influencer Mordechai David, an ally of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Meanwhile, in the southern port city of Ashdod, a mural depicting Abraham and Szor was defaced with red targets and branded with the word "traitors."

The political backlash has transcended partisan lines. Opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot, a primary challenger to Netanyahu, denounced the documentary as "moral blindness, a detachment from reality, and harm to the State of Israel in a difficult hour." Yair Golan, head of the centre-left Democrats party, issued a concise condemnation, while accusing Netanyahu of utilizing the controversy to deflect political scrutiny over his handling of the October 7 attacks.

Government ministers have taken formal steps against the production. Culture Minister Miki Zohar accused the filmmakers of "treason against the state" and referred the matter to domestic intelligence services, demanding an investigation into the film's anonymous military sources. In contrast, the Union of Journalists in Israel condemned the threats directed at the creators, issuing a statement emphasizing that "without freedom of expression, there is no democracy."

Amidst widespread condemnation from mainstream Israeli politicians, the Israeli-Palestinian grassroots movement Standing Together offered a dissenting view, praising the film for exposing aspects of the ongoing military campaign in Gaza. According to the Gaza health ministry operating under Hamas authority, Israel's military campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 73,700 people.