- The documentary NAZA, produced in secret for three years, had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, revealing the Israeli military's collateral damage system.
- Israeli politicians, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have attacked the film, claiming it aids the enemy, and proposed legal action against the filmmakers.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on September 16 that his government would revoke citizenship from anyone who defames IDF supporters abroad, raising the fine for defamation to 1 million shekels (nearly $330,000).
- The backlash against the film highlights the limited meaning of Israeli citizenship, especially as revoking citizenship from Jews is without historical precedent.
- The documentary is composed of anonymous interviews with those active in Israel’s military and intelligence service during the war against Gaza, depicting extensive, highly detailed confessions of their participation in the mass targeting and killing of Palestinian civilians.
- The film’s title comes from the Israeli military’s system for assessing collateral damage, which can predict civilian deaths in an airstrike, including a case where a strike was approved that would kill 500 Palestinians.
- Critics of the film have claimed it released highly sensitive and classified information about IDF operations, with some calling it a blood libel.
The Israeli documentary 'NAZA', which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, exposes military confessions regarding the targeting of Palestinian civilians. The film's release has sparked significant backlash, leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce plans to revoke citizenship from its filmmakers, a move unprecedented in Israeli history.1
The documentary features anonymous interviews with military personnel, detailing their roles in operations that resulted in civilian casualties. One participant noted that the military approved a strike predicted to kill 500 Palestinians, highlighting the chilling calculations behind such decisions. The film's title refers to the Israeli military's system for assessing collateral damage, which can predict civilian deaths in airstrikes.56
Netanyahu's announcement on September 16 marks a significant escalation in the Israeli government's response to dissent, as he stated that his administration would revoke citizenship from anyone who defames IDF supporters abroad. This move raises questions about the fragility of Israeli citizenship, particularly for those who challenge state narratives. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has labeled the filmmakers as aiding the enemy, further intensifying the controversy surrounding the film.23
The implications of this backlash extend beyond the filmmakers, as it reflects a broader trend of increasing governmental control over dissenting voices within Israel. The film's revelations and the government's response underscore the ongoing tensions surrounding military actions in Gaza and the rights of Israeli citizens to express dissent.
“The film's anonymous interviews reveal the military's NAZA system once approved a strike calculated to kill 500 Palestinians, with no distinction between adults and children. Netanyahu's unprecedented plan to revoke citizenship from Jews, a first in Israeli history, follows earlier stripping of two Palestinians' nationality.”
Haaretz
theintercept.com
