'NAZA' documentary wins Special Jury Prize in Venice with Gaza war claims

Key Points:

• The documentary NAZA, directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and alleges systematic mass civilian casualties caused by Israeli military operations in Gaza, based on interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and officers.
• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strongly rejected the film’s claims, criticizing its reliance on anonymous testimonies, disputing the accuracy of the allegations, and affirming that military operations comply with international law and aim to minimize civilian harm.
• The IDF emphasized that targeting decisions are made by human personnel, not artificial intelligence, and stated that any suspected violations are investigated through independent mechanisms, urging soldiers to report misconduct.
• Following the award, director Yuval Abraham responded to Israeli criticism by asserting that the film reveals deliberate policies of dehumanization and systemic killing in Gaza, and highlighted the silencing of Palestinian journalists who documented the conflict.
• Abraham urged audiences in Israel, Europe, and the United States to watch the documentary, stressing its importance in exposing the truth and calling for international pressure on Israel to end the violence.