Documentary Release Triggers Prime Ministerial Orders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the country’s attorney general and the head of the Shin Bet security service to reveal the identities of soldiers and officers interviewed in the investigative documentary NAZA, demanding their prosecution for causing harm to national diplomatic and security interests, The Guardian reported. The award-winning film details the mass killing of civilians in Gaza through interviews with military insiders.
Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by The Guardian, NAZA takes its name from an intelligence acronym used euphemistically to indicate expected civilian casualties in airstrikes. The documentary premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the special jury prize following a record-breaking ovation. It has since moved into cinemas across the UK, the US, and more than 50 countries worldwide.
Demands for Criminal Prosecution and Source Disclosure
Netanyahu addressed a formal letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet head David Zini. He directed them to act urgently to uncover the identities of all military personnel involved in the film and demanded the opening of criminal investigations for serious information security offenses, criminal defamation, and harm to state interests.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir denounced the project as an attack on the state, accusing it of spreading lies and blood libels. Military Advocate General Itai Ofir stated that criminal prosecution would require concrete evidence of security violations or the disclosure of classified material, though disciplinary measures remain under consideration.
Government Backlash Against Filmmakers
Government figures have launched fierce attacks against directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, threatening to strip them of their Israeli citizenship and accusing them of treason. Government supporters have picketed Szor’s parents’ home in Savyon, chanting death threats, while threatening graffiti has appeared on walls in Ashdod following the film’s Venice success.
International press freedom organizations have condemned the government’s response. Ricardo Gutiérrez, general secretary of the European Federation of Journalists, called the threats a blatant act of intimidation against journalists working in the public interest. Film industry leaders worldwide have expressed solidarity with the directors, affirming their right to pursue difficult subjects without fear of reprisal.
Background Reporting and Institutional Verification
The documentary builds on investigative reporting published between 2023 and 2025 by the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine, the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, and The Guardian. The production team interviewed more than 100 sources familiar with IDF systems used in the Gaza war, including senior commanders who authorized strikes.
A Guardian spokesperson stated that the verification process relied on leaked classified documents, detailed strike analysis, and a wider pool of confidential sources who did not appear on camera. In response, the Israeli government has promoted an online counter-project titled NAZA: The Real Story, created by attorney and army reservist Ariel Averbuch, to challenge the documentary’s findings.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Investigation
Where is the documentary currently being screened?
The film is showing in cinemas across the United Kingdom, the United States, and more than 50 other countries following its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.
What previous publications formed the basis for the film?
The documentary expands on investigative reports published between 2023 and 2025 by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call.
How many military sources did the filmmakers interview?
The production team interviewed more than 100 sources familiar with IDF systems, including senior-ranking commanders involved in authorizing strikes.
Worth a look