Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary, “NAZA,” sheds light on Israel’s purported use of AI-driven military technology to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a remarkable 24.5-minute standing ovation, breaking records for the festival. Video footage from the event captured the emotional reaction of the Israeli filmmakers and audience members, with Abraham visibly moved to tears.
The documentary is based on testimonies from 24 Israeli military insiders whose identities remain anonymous. It delves into the use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence allegedly employed by Israel to identify and strike Hamas targets, even when civilian families, including women and children, are present.
In response to the film’s allegations, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement vehemently denying the claims and criticizing the use of unverifiable anonymous testimonies. The IDF emphasized that human decision-making guides their actions, striving to minimize harm to civilians while targeting military objectives.
“NAZA” is named after an Israeli military acronym for civilian casualties and serves as a companion piece to Abraham and Szor’s previous award-winning documentary, “No Other Land.” The film’s executive producer, Jonathan Glazer, faced backlash following previous remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The filmmakers aim to highlight the ongoing violence and systemic nature of the conflict, emphasizing the need for awareness and accountability. Despite past hostilities, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with continued civilian casualties underscoring the urgency of addressing the conflict’s underlying issues.