Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants authorities to examine the unnamed people appearing in NAZA, a prize-winning documentary that accuses the Israeli army of relying on AI-powered targeting systems to kill civilians in Gaza.
In a post on X on Saturday evening, Netanyahu urged the chief of general staff, the Shin Bet head and the attorney general to investigate those who took part in the film and bring charges over information security breaches, criminal libel and damage to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests. He described the film as false, misleading and biased, saying it defames the state and the military abroad.
Military rejects whistleblower claims on AI strike approvals
The documentary relies on testimony from 24 Israeli military whistleblowers, none of whom are named, who say the army used such systems in the besieged territory, leading to the deaths of numerous civilians. Last month, the military said it firmly rejected those allegations, describing some of the assertions as absurd and inconsistent.
The army maintained that human personnel alone select and approve strikes, in line with its guidelines. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has asked that legal action against the participants be considered and has ordered an inquiry into suspected leaks of classified military information used in making the film.
Venice honours NAZA as political row erupts in Israel
NAZA received a special jury prize at the Venice International Film Festival and a standing ovation lasting 25 minutes, which was described as historic. The film has also set off a political storm at home. Its directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, have been accused of treason, while Netanyahu and Culture Minister Miki Zohar have threatened to revoke their Israeli citizenship.
Last week, Tzipi Hotovely, head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate, presented certificates of recognition to the creators of a rival film, NAZA: The Real Story, for countering what she called blood libels in the original. A Prime Minister’s Office statement said the rival film includes soldiers who refute the earlier claims. By contrast, 43 Israeli rights groups defended the NAZA filmmakers and condemned the threats against them, Israeli media reported.
Origins of the film’s name and Gaza death toll
The title borrows a military term for civilian casualties expected in air strikes, an abbreviation of the Hebrew phrase for collateral damage. The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, and other Palestinian groups attacked southern Israel, killing 1,139 people and taking about 240 captive.
Since then, Israel has killed at least 74,000 Palestinians, including at least 21,000 children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
