Israeli documentary 'NAZA' opens in US, reigniting debate over Gaza war

An Israeli documentary accusing the country's military of recklessly killing civilians in Gaza is opening in US theatres, potentially reviving debate over American military support for Israel ahead of congressional elections.

"NAZA", named after the Hebrew acronym for collateral damage, features anonymous Israeli military insiders who allege that Israel used sophisticated, including artificial intelligence-powered, systems to identify suspected militants and conduct strikes despite knowing that many civilians could be killed.

The documentary received a record 25-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Its release has also triggered strong criticism in Israel, which will hold elections later this month.

The Israeli military has categorically rejected the filmmakers' findings and threatened to identify soldiers who spoke to them. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the film antisemitic, while a Cabinet minister threatened to revoke the filmmakers' citizenship. Co-director Yuval Abraham has said he fears returning to Israel.

At the film's New York premiere last month, protesters displayed images from the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attack that triggered the war. Abraham condemned the attack but said it could not justify the killing of civilians in Gaza.

Abraham and co-director Rachel Szor previously made "No Other Land", which won an Oscar but drew anger in Israel.

"NAZA" consists largely of nighttime interviews on Tel Aviv rooftops, with the interviewees' faces and voices concealed. Some use drawings to explain the systems they describe. The filmmakers say the sources spoke anonymously because of fears of retaliation and that their claims were thoroughly checked.

The interviewees describe AI systems that analyse surveillance footage, identify people with alleged Hamas links and create databases containing tens of thousands of names. Another system, they say, recommends buildings for attacks.

One source alleged that an operation targeting a single Hamas militant was approved despite an estimate of 500 civilian deaths. The military denied the claim.

Much of the reporting had previously appeared in +972 Magazine, Local Call and The Guardian, which collaborated on the documentary.

The Israeli military said its orders clearly distinguish between militants and civilians and that it seeks to minimise civilian casualties. It acknowledged using AI but said intelligence officers select targets and operational commanders decide whether to strike.

The film's reporting is based on interviews with more than 100 confidential sources conducted with The Guardian's investigation desk between 2023 and 2025.

Rights groups and experts have accused Israel of genocide over civilian deaths, destruction and restrictions on aid. Israel rejects the allegations, saying it sought to protect civilians while fighting Hamas.

Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 others in the 7 October attack. Israel's offensive has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, including over 1,400 since a fragile ceasefire began a year ago, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children account for about half the deaths.

"NAZA" is being released in the US without a traditional distributor. It is playing at New York's IFC Center and will expand to cities including Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle on 9 October. It will be available for free streaming on The Guardian's website in late November.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Documentary Association have condemned threats against the filmmakers. More than 2,000 people, including prominent Israeli filmmakers, have signed a petition supporting Abraham and Szor.

The filmmakers say they want audiences in both Israel and the United States to understand the situation in Gaza and America's role in supporting Israel. A study published last year estimated that the Biden and Trump administrations provided at least $21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel during the first two years of the war.

"Much of what is being described was done with American taxpayer money," Abraham said.