Documentary Naza Sparks Political Upheaval and Security Investigations in Israel
Twenty-four anonymous Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers detail widespread civilian casualties and artificial intelligence target selection in the controversial documentary film Am, triggering sharp political backlash and pending military investigations. Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film premiered to a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival and arrived in select Norwegian cinemas in September 2026, vg.no reported.
The Hebrew title translates to “collateral damage,” reflecting the film’s core focus on military calculations during the war in Gaza. Throughout the project, interviews were conducted on darkened rooftop terraces in Tel Aviv during the intense military operations of 2023. The participants speak in a sober, matter-of-fact tone about their technical roles inside intelligence headquarters.
Political Condemnation and Protests Target Filmmakers
The fallout from the documentary’s release quickly moved from foreign film festivals to domestic politics in Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu accused the filmmakers of treason and threatened to strip them of their citizenship, according to vg.no. Meanwhile, right-wing activists demonstrated outside the family home of co-director Rachel Szor in Savyon outside Tel Aviv on September 16, 2026.
Days prior to the demonstrations, Israel’s culture minister formally demanded an investigation into the 24 anonymous military sources featured in the project. Legal experts note that the testimonies captured on film could eventually serve as evidence in future legal proceedings.
The film contrasts the detached environment of the intelligence operators in Tel Aviv with the realities on the ground in Gaza. Soldiers describe hearing surveillance audio of family apartments before and after strikes, capturing children’s voices calling for parents. Rather than citing human shield tactics, the interviewees explain that Hamas targets were routinely engaged at home with their families, preferably at night.
Artificial Intelligence and the Calculus of Civilian Casualties
The documentary details how automated systems map civilian movements, communication patterns, and mobile phone usage to identify potential Hamas affiliates. Soldiers concede that the threshold for defining someone as a target remains low. The term Am emerged within military calculations to quantify acceptable civilian losses for a given strike, ranging from five to 20 casualties per operation, with one officer recalling an instance where a senior Hamas leader’s death was deemed to justify 500 civilian deaths.
The debate over the classification of the conflict has intensified internationally and domestically. While figures like climate activist Greta Thunberg have publicly labeled the military campaign a genocide, the documentary draws its most potent assertions from the firsthand accounts of the soldiers themselves rather than external political commentators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the title Naza mean in the documentary?
The title is a Hebrew term translating to “collateral damage.” In the context of the film, it refers to the numerical value assigned by military personnel to acceptable civilian deaths during a targeted strike.
Who directed the film Naza?
The documentary was directed by filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Following the film’s international screenings, both directors remained abroad amid security concerns and political threats.
Where were the interviews conducted?
The interviews with the 24 anonymous intelligence officers and soldiers were conducted on darkened rooftop terraces in Tel Aviv during the height of the 2023 military campaign.