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Gaza documentary ‘NAZA’ premieres at Venice as Israeli military dismisses its findings

The film details alleged automated targeting systems based on military insider testimonies, which the IDF calls unverified.

Updated Sep 13, 2026 · 10:00 UTC4 reports

The short version

  • Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor premiered their documentary 'NAZA' at the Venice Film Festival, presenting interviews with 24 Israeli military officers detailing systems used during the war in Gaza.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The documentary examines protocols such as the AI-assisted system 'Lavender,' arguing civilian deaths were calculated rather than unintentional collateral damage.[Al Jazeera]
  • The Israel Defence Forces dismissed the allegations outright, asserting the film relies on unverifiable anonymous accounts while the military targets only combatants and works to limit civilian harm.[The Hollywood Reporter]

Key facts

  • The documentary 'NAZA' features accounts from 24 Israeli military personnel concerning protocols and automated systems used during the conflict in Gaza.[The Guardian · The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The film draws its title from a military shorthand term referring to anticipated civilian casualties resulting from an airstrike.[Variety · The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The production was directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, and produced in part by The Guardian and James Wilson.[Variety · The Guardian · The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The project expanded on investigative reporting released between 2023 and 2025 by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call.[The Guardian · Al Jazeera]
  • The Israel Defence Forces rejected the film's claims, stating the documentary relies on unverifiable anonymous testimonies and reiterating that it takes extensive steps to minimize civilian casualties.[The Hollywood Reporter]

What remains uncertain

  • The accounts in the documentary are provided by anonymous military sources whose specific allegations have been disputed and characterized as unverifiable by the Israeli military.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Reports varied on the precise duration of the standing ovation at the Venice premiere, with Variety recording 24.5 minutes and other outlets citing 25 minutes.[Variety · The Hollywood Reporter]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.