Netanyahu calls NAZA film shocking incitement
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the documentary film NAZA, which claims that mass civilian deaths in Gaza were systematically factored into decisions on strikes. He called the film part of a wave of global incitement against Jews, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
In a video address published on Telegram, Netanyahu said that Israel is countering global antisemitic incitement and that its manifestations inside the country are unacceptable. He also criticized the applause that greeted Israeli filmmakers at the Venice Film Festival who, he said, portray Israeli forces as war criminals.
Reaction of military leadership
Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir also condemned the film, calling it an attack on the State of Israel. According to him, based on the released materials, the film is neither criticism of the army nor an attempt to establish the truth, but is based on slander, deliberate distortion of reality, and false accusations against Israeli military personnel and commanders.
The military said that Zamir instructed the military advocate general to examine and advance possible legal measures regarding the film and the people involved in it. The authority of this body is limited to the military system.
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What NAZA is about
The film was made by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. The title NAZA comes from an Israeli military term for expected collateral damage. The film is based on anonymous interviews with intelligence officers and service members involved in the war in Gaza.
On September 13, the film received a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. During the screening on September 10, viewers gave the authors a 25-minute standing ovation. In his speech after receiving the award, Abraham said that denying a crime contributes to its continuation, and that Israelis should therefore see this film.
Gaza health authorities say that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel's military campaign, most of them civilians, according to their data. Israel says it makes significant efforts to avoid civilian casualties while fighting Hamas fighters who, according to Israel's position, are located at sites such as hospitals, schools, and shelters. Hamas denies this.
