Israeli documentary 'NAZA' challenges official accounts of Gaza civilian deaths

The Israeli documentary "NAZA," by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, premiered at the Venice Film Festival, alleging that mass civilian deaths were an inherent part of Israeli military targeting decisions in Gaza. The film, whose title refers to "collateral casualties," features anonymous testimonies from intelligence officers and soldiers.

"Mass killing on an industrial scale,"

one officer stated, describing an AI-assisted system that identified targets using data from hacked phones, where even a child's phrase like "daddy's home" could trigger an airstrike. Officers also detailed civilian deaths in undisclosed no-go zones near aid centers, with one remarking, "They have to learn with blood." The film challenges Israel's official stance of minimizing civilian casualties and its claim that Hamas uses civilians as human shields. Some officers drew parallels between their experiences and the Holocaust, a link Abraham emphasized for its universal implications. The documentary was filmed on Tel Aviv rooftops to contrast daily life with the devastation in Gaza, with the directors noting a lack of empathy among many Israelis for Palestinian civilians.