Netanyahu demands probe into sources for award-winning Gaza film NAZA | Gaza News
Prime Minister Calls for Investigation Following Film Allegations of Military Actions in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged an investigation into the anonymity of sources featured in a documentary alleging that the Israeli military used artificial intelligence systems to target civilians in Gaza.
The award-winning film, NAZA, draws on the accounts of 24 unnamed Israeli military whistleblowers who claim the army employed AI technology, resulting in numerous civilian deaths in the region.
Netanyahu expressed his demands in a post on social media platform X, saying, “I demand that the chief of general staff, the head of the Shin Bet, and the attorney general launch a comprehensive investigation into the participants in the film Naza and prosecute them for serious information security violations, criminal libel, and harm to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests.” He added that the film propagates a “false, misleading, and biased narrative” that could damage Israel’s international standing.
In a prior statement, the Israeli military categorically rejected the whistleblowers’ claims, describing some of the allegations as “absurd” and contradictory. The military emphasized that decisions regarding air strikes are made solely by human personnel, adhering to established guidelines.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has called for the consideration of legal action against the film’s participants and has initiated an investigation into possible leaks of classified information relevant to the film’s production.
The title NAZA is derived from the Israeli military term for anticipated civilian casualties in air strikes, an abbreviation of the Hebrew phrase for “collateral damage.” The film garnered acclaim at the Venice International Film Festival, where it received a special jury prize and a historic 25-minute standing ovation.
However, it has also sparked significant political controversy within Israel. Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor have faced accusations of “treason,” with Netanyahu and Culture Minister Miki Zohar threatening to revoke their Israeli citizenship.
In response to the original film, Tzipi Hotovely, head of Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate, recently awarded the creators of a counter-film, NAZA: The Real Story, with certificates of recognition for rebutting the claims made in the original. This counter-film reportedly features testimonies from soldiers discrediting the accusations presented in NAZA.
Conversely, 43 Israeli human rights organizations have rallied in support of the NAZA filmmakers, condemning the threats directed at them, according to a report from Israel’s Channel 12 news.
This controversy arises amid ongoing violence that has escalated since October 7, 2023, when attacks by Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, and other Palestinian groups resulted in the deaths of 1,139 individuals in southern Israel and the abduction of approximately 240 others. Since that time, Israeli airstrikes have reportedly killed at least 74,000 Palestinians, including at least 21,000 children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
