The documentary NAZA, directed by Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, offers a stark examination of the systematic military operations conducted in Gaza. Produced by, the film focuses on the mechanisms of mass targeting, relying on the accounts of 24 anonymous military and intelligence insiders who participated in remote airstrike operations. The filmmakers, who previously won an Oscar for their 2024 documentary No Other Land, which documented Palestinian resistance in the West Bank, spent significant time interviewing these individuals to understand the internal logic of the killing chain.
The film highlights a system characterized by remote operations, where AI-driven targeting and drone strikes are managed from locations like Tel Aviv. While the Gaza health ministry has documented over 73,000 deaths during three years of bombardment—the majority being civilians—the documentary contrasts the devastation in Gaza with the relative normalcy of life in Tel Aviv. The filmmakers suggest that the physical distance between the operators and the targets, combined with euphemistic language, serves to distance those involved from the immediate consequences of their actions.
Addressing the motivations of their subjects, Abraham noted that the 24 individuals involved hold a variety of statuses and reasons for speaking out. Some express pride in their technical expertise, while others grapple with the reality of their roles. According to the filmmakers, these intelligence officers are often aware of the specific circumstances of their targets. Abraham remarked that these officers listen to cellphones and are aware when a house is occupied by children, yet they still proceed with orders. One source in the film even claimed that approval was once granted to target 500 people to eliminate a single Hamas member.
The production of the film has placed both directors in a precarious position within the current political climate of Israel. Abraham, who faced a right-wing mob at his family home following the premiere of his previous work, acknowledges the personal risks involved. Szor, who maintains a lower profile, notes that while her work has caused friction with some family members, she views it as a necessary sacrifice. Despite the intensity of the subject matter, Abraham emphasized that they operate from a position of relative privilege within the Israeli system.
The documentary has received significant attention following its premiere at the Venice film festival, where it was met with a 25-minute ovation. Industry publications have described the film as a devastating exposé of systematic mass slaughter, with some noting that its revelations are likely to provoke profound outrage regarding the current Israeli administration. During the official press conference, the filmmakers were questioned about parallels between the Holocaust and the ongoing conflict, a connection that was also raised by one of the soldiers featured in the film.
In response to the documentary, the Israeli military stated on Friday that it categorically rejects the allegations presented. The IDF criticized the reliance on anonymous testimonies, asserting that such accounts cannot be verified. Furthermore, the military maintained that it makes unprecedented efforts to minimize harm to civilians during its operations in Gaza.
The film captures the chilling perspective of those who view their work as a technical process. One soldier described the planning of airstrikes as having an element of fun, while another reflected on the irony of having visited Holocaust sites as a child. As the film continues to circulate, the filmmakers remain focused on the systemic nature of the conflict, highlighting how individuals within a powerful military apparatus justify their participation in large-scale operations. The report also notes that nAZA, we learn, is an acronym used by the intelligence service to indicate how many civilians it expects to die in an airstrike on Gaza. The report also notes that or in heavily populated neighbourhoods, too bad, the Israel Defense Forces prefer to target Hamas terrorists in their homes at night – and if they live with their family. The report also notes that “But at the same time it gave people … I don’t want to say hope, but some light to latch on to. The report also notes that it’s not a coincidence that this film is all in the dark. The report also notes that we are in a very dark place right now.”. The report also notes that grieving parents, dead children on the ground, nAZA briefly shows us the rubble. The report also notes that though, is placid, normal Tel Aviv, just 44 miles to the north, where rush-hour traffic drifts dreamily on the street and the cinematheque is showing a Claude Lanzmann retrospective, its main backdrop. The report also notes that tellingly, the film was executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, the director of The Zone of Interest.