The Israeli documentary ‘Naza’ drew attacks from Israeli officials and public figures after its world premiere in the official competition of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. Critics accused its makers of harming Israel and its soldiers through its account of the war in the Gaza Strip.
Soldiers’ testimonies reveal Gaza targeting system
According to the filmmakers, its name refers to an abbreviation used by the Israeli military to indicate the number of civilians expected to be killed in a strike, including men, women and children. The documentary examines how anticipated civilian casualties are incorporated into calculations for selecting targets and approving strikes.
‘Naza’ also draws on journalistic investigations published between 2023 and 2025 that examined how targets are identified in Gaza, the extent to which military bodies know in advance the potential number of civilian casualties, and the limits on casualties allowed before strikes are carried out. The film brings these investigations to the screen through testimonies, images and locations linked to its subject. The filmmakers worked in secret for 3 years to conduct the interviews.
Some participants were filmed on rooftops in Tel Aviv, with their identities concealed and their voices and features digitally altered for fear of repercussions. The film’s inclusion in the festival programme was also delayed until the team completed procedures to protect its sources. The film was produced jointly by the Guardian, JW Films and producer James Wilson, while British director Jonathan Glazer served as executive producer.
Bennett attacks film and defends Israeli military
Wilson and Glazer had previously collaborated on ‘The Zone of Interest’, winner of the 2024 Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was among the film’s most prominent critics, accusing it of presenting a narrative alleging that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza and describing it as a “blood libel.”
He defended the Israeli military, saying that civilian deaths during the war do not mean civilians were deliberately targeted, and accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields. Bennett cited measures he said Israel takes to protect civilians, including warnings before some strikes, evacuating residents from combat zones and assisting in vaccination campaigns for children in Gaza.
He also pledged not to remain silent about Israeli soldiers being portrayed as committing genocide. The criticism extended to social media platforms, where Israeli activists and journalists attacked the film and its directors, with some questioning the participants’ testimonies.
Israeli strategic communications and public affairs adviser Raz Zauper criticized the concealment of the faces and names of the 24 people who gave testimony, while others accused director Yuval Abraham of seeking acceptance in Western circles.
Film returns genocide allegations to international debate
The makers of ‘Naza’ say their work seeks to expose the mechanisms of Israel’s targeting system in Gaza through testimonies from within it, while its critics view it as damaging the image of the military and the state and returning allegations of genocide to the international debate. Its screening comes after the 2025 Venice Film Festival, which saw a demonstration attended by thousands in support of Palestinians.
