The documentary film AM explores the Israeli army’s military campaign in Gaza, detailing how AI-systems and mass surveillance accelerated urban destruction and civilian casualties following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film features testimony from 24 intelligence officers and soldiers.
Testimonies of Intelligence Officers and Automated Targeting
Interviewed on rooftops in Tel Aviv to conceal their identities, 24 military intelligence officers and soldiers describe an operational shift toward mass destruction in Gaza. According to the documentary, the military employed systems focusing on volume rather than precision. The title AM derives from the Hebrew term nezak agavi, which translates to collateral damage, a term the interviewees state was used to designate civilian casualties. Following the October 7 attacks, military personnel describe an atmosphere driven by demands for retaliation, where entire buildings were blown up and hundreds of civilians could be killed for a prominent Hamas member without differentiation between adults and children.
Mass Surveillance and Operations in Gaza
The film details how extensive surveillance networks enabled rapid identification and targeting. Intelligence personnel report hacking and monitoring phones, listening to ambient audio from private homes—including conversations and crying infants—before green-lighting strikes. According to the interviewees, the operational strategy aimed to render the Gaza Strip uninhabitable by methodically destroying residential areas by blowing up and burning houses to prevent the return of displaced populations. While some soldiers interviewed express pride in mission completion or view themselves as technical analysts functioning within a larger system, others report deep regret and moral conflict, drawing parallels to historical atrocities while evaluating their own actions.
Festival Reception and Political Fallout in Israel
AM premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor received a 25-minute standing ovation and the jury prize. The production generated immediate political backlash in Israel. The Israeli Culture Minister announced measures to strip the directors of their citizenship, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to hit the makers hard. Abraham and Szor went into hiding following threats and protests outside their residences. While the documentary is not being shown in Israel, international premieres are scheduled across dozens of countries, with online streaming planned for November.
Related Investigative Reporting and Documentation
The disclosures in AM align with prior reporting by Yuval Abraham published in +972 Magazine, which detailed patterns of residential bombings and the authorization thresholds for civilian casualties during military operations. Palestinian journalists have extensively documented these events. The Israeli army has rejected allegations made by the soldiers regarding systemic targeting protocols.
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