Controversy has increased in Israel regarding 'Naza' documentary made on Gaza war. Culture Minister Mickey Johar sought to revoke the citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Johar. The IDF described the allegations made in the film as false.
Tel Aviv: Political controversy has intensified in Israel regarding 'Naza', the new documentary by Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers on the Gaza war. Israel's Culture Minister Mickey Zohar has sought to revoke the citizenship of the film's co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Zohar. The minister has asked authorities to investigate the matter, linking the film to “sedition” against the state. 'Naza' highlights allegations related to AI-based targeting systems allegedly used by the Israeli army during its military campaign in Gaza and the deaths of civilians. The film includes interviews with 24 Israeli military and intelligence officers, whose identities have not been made public.
'Naza' documentary is made on Gaza war
The name 'Naza' is derived from the Hebrew military acronym, which refers to collateral damage in military operations. The 80-minute documentary raises questions about the Israeli military's targeting process and military operations during the war in Gaza.
According to the film's official description, the documentary aims to expose the systems through which the mass killing of Palestinian civilians is allegedly carried out in Gaza. One person interviewed in the film claimed that the attack, which killed 500 people, was approved for a “humanitarian target”. However, the Israeli Army has called this claim completely false.
Israeli minister cited the citizenship law
Culture Minister Mickey Johar said on social media platform
In a letter to Israel's Interior Ministry, Zohar described the claims made in the film as “false and distorted.” He said he completely rejects efforts to portray Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and Israel as deliberate perpetrators of crimes.
Zohar referred to Israel's citizenship law, saying the law allows for revocation of citizenship on the basis of “breach of allegiance to the State of Israel.” However, such action has been used in very few cases.
Filmmakers have won Oscars before too
Yuval Abraham and Rachel Jor have already achieved international recognition. Both of them won the Oscar award last year for the documentary 'No Other Land'.
The film focused on the issue of settlement-related violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. In the new documentary 'Naza', serious questions have been raised regarding military action during the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Gaza War. There was no immediate response from the film's producers to the Israeli Culture Minister's demand regarding citizenship.
Premiere at Venice Film Festival
'Naza' premiered at the Venice Film Festival last Thursday. The film received a standing ovation there for about 25 minutes. In addition, the documentary also won the Special Jury Prize at the festival.
However, even after its premiere, the film has not yet been made available to a wide audience.
The film's co-director Yuval Abraham said in Venice that the reporting done for the documentary was rigorous and detailed. He described the efforts to defame the film as an attempt not to face reality.
What did Yuval Abraham say?
In an interview with The Associated Press, Abraham said that the war has killed mainly civilians and that his film tries to show that this was not just a mistake or an accident, but was part of a systematic process, according to him.
He said that the film has shown this entire matter from inside and for this, the testimony of those who have allegedly been inside this system has been included. However, the allegations made in the film have been rejected by the Israeli army.
IDF called the allegations false
The Israeli Defense Forces initially said it “completely rejects” the allegations made in the film. IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Difrin later issued a new statement. The IDF said that 'Naza' has not yet been fully released. However, based on what appears to be promotional material, the military says the film presents serious and false allegations against the IDF and its personnel.
The army suggested to the filmmakers that they allow IDF representatives to view the entire documentary. According to the IDF, this will allow each allegation raised in the film to be discussed in a factual and professional manner, rather than the debate being based on a misleading presentation.
Controversy over death figures in Gaza
The film focuses on questions related to civilian deaths and Israeli military action during the Gaza war. According to the available source, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry claims that more than 73,000 Palestinians, including more than 20,000 children, have been killed in Israel's military campaign since the war began on 7 October 2023. The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable.
At the same time, on October 7, 2023, in the Hamas-led attack, about 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage. There is continued debate and controversy at the international level regarding these figures and the military actions taken during the war.
Other Israeli leaders also criticized
It is not only the Culture Minister who has raised objection regarding 'Naza'. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described the documentary as a “horrible blood libel” against Israeli soldiers and civilians.
Former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman also criticized the film's directors, calling them “Israel haters.”
In this way, even before the release of the film, there is a strong reaction against it in Israeli political circles.
More than 700 people associated with the film industry supported
While many Israeli politicians have criticized the documentary, more than 700 people in the film industry have signed a petition in support of the filmmakers.
The petition said the filmmakers were facing a “provocation and defamation campaign”.
Israeli actor and screenwriter Shlomi Elkabetz, speaking to Israel's N12 channel, said that the questions raised in the film should be investigated, not suppressed.
Documentary sparks debate on freedom of expression in Israel
The controversy over 'Naza' is not limited to Israeli military actions in the Gaza war. The demand for revocation of citizenship against the film has also raised questions about freedom of expression, film production and wartime criticism in Israel.
While the government and the IDF are calling the allegations made in the film false and misleading, the filmmakers and their supporters are seeing it as a journalistic and documentary effort that exposes the inner aspects of the war. At present the film has not been released widely. In such a situation, after its public display, there is a possibility of more discussion at the international level on its claims, military reactions and political controversy.