NAZA: Why are old Gaza allegations causing new fury in Israel? | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Political Response to Gaza Documentary Highlights Divisions Ahead of Elections
As Israel approaches elections scheduled for October, longstanding political rifts are becoming increasingly pronounced. The release of a new documentary addressing the military’s actions in Gaza has stirred a fierce backlash, revealing a rare consensus among much of the country’s political and media establishment.
The documentary titled NAZA, created by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, revisits several central allegations regarding Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Key claims, including the use of artificial intelligence to determine targets, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians, first emerged in April 2024.
While discussions of genocide, famine, and unlawful killings of children have been largely absent from mainstream Israeli media, NAZA has thrust these issues into the spotlight of national debate. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, receiving a standing ovation lasting 25 minutes and provoking sharp criticism from an array of officials.
Culture Minister Miki Zohar responded to the film’s debut by proposing that the filmmakers have their citizenship revoked and be investigated for treason. Army chief Eyal Zamir called the film “blood libel” and has initiated a legal inquiry to identify the military and intelligence sources behind the documentary. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referenced the film while promoting legislation aimed at stripping citizenship from individuals who allegedly tarnish the reputation of Israeli soldiers.
Tensions have escalated in the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod, where graffiti labeling the filmmakers as “traitors” has appeared on public walls. Orly Noy, an editor at Local Call—one of the outlets that first published the allegations featured in the film—expressed concern over the backlash, noting that even journalists have participated in the attack against Abraham and Szor, rather than showing solidarity.
“Those outside the country cannot fully grasp the extent of the madness,” Noy said. “The response has been alarming.”
Concerns about censorship and media representation have also been raised. In late 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported increasing harassment of Israeli media, stating that reporting was becoming “part of the war effort,” significantly influencing public perception of the conflict. A study by the think tank Molad found that only 3 percent of Channel 12’s coverage during the first six months of the war mentioned Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with a mere two of 206 visuals showing Palestinian civilian casualties.
Despite the documentary’s critical claims, polls before its release indicated that a majority of Israelis believed their media coverage of military conduct in Gaza was balanced. Anat Saragusti, a journalist focused on press freedom, attributed the shock surrounding NAZA to a lack of investigative reporting on the army’s actions and minimal coverage of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Compounding the issue, Saragusti noted, is a prevailing national narrative framing the war as a response to Hamas’s actions on October 7, 2023, which obscures the context for Palestinian casualties.
Responses to the film have come not only from the government but also from across the political spectrum. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot criticized the documentary for its “moral blindness,” while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described it as a “horrific blood libel” against Israeli forces.
Noy remarked on the increasingly incendiary political climate, stating, “As the election approaches, the extent of incitement becomes more evident. My concerns for friends and colleagues working in media have only intensified.”
