IDF rejects NAZA film’s allegations over AI and civilian casualties — Jerusalem Post
In Israel, the Israel Defense Forces rejected allegations made in the documentary film NAZA regarding the use of artificial intelligence systems for the “calculated mass killing” of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. As The Jerusalem Post reports, the military says these systems help assess likely collateral damage before a strike and cannot independently determine whether a person or object is a lawful military target.
NAZA is an Israeli military abbreviation for nezek agavi, meaning “collateral damage.” The 80-minute film by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor was presented on September 10 at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a special jury prize. According to its official description, the film examines systems allegedly behind the “calculated mass killing” of civilians in Gaza and relies on testimony from anonymous Israeli military and intelligence personnel.
IDF position
Under the IDF’s published procedures, a strike must not be carried out if the expected collateral damage is excessive in comparison with the anticipated military advantage. Cyber intelligence specialist Matthias Rott explained that AI can process large volumes of intelligence data, model the target’s surroundings, and help assess the consequences of different attack options.
According to Rott, potential harm beyond the military target can be affected by the direction of the strike, the selected munition, and its accuracy. He also said that the final decision on an attack is made by a human. At the same time, the expert called it an important question whether an official independently assesses the information or merely formally approves the conclusion of an automated system.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Statements by anonymous sources
Abraham’s 2024 investigation for +972 Magazine and Local Call discussed the Lavender system, which processed intelligence data on suspected members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Six intelligence sources said that at the beginning of the war, officers relied heavily on its results, at times conducting only limited human review.
At the same time, the investigation reported that strikes depended on an assessment of collateral damage, and some attacks on suspected lower-ranking fighters were not carried out when the expected number of civilians in a building exceeded an established threshold. According to the film, two sources said that in the first weeks of hostilities, certain strikes on such fighters could be authorized with expected losses of up to 15 or 20 civilians. The IDF disputed this account, stating that each target was assessed individually.
The military also rejected claims that Lavender and Habsora were autonomous systems for determining targets. Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir ordered additional actions in connection with the film, including a review of a possible leak of classified materials.
