Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham premiered their documentary, “NAZA,” at the Venice Film Festival, shedding light on Israel’s alleged utilization of AI-driven military technologies to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The film garnered a remarkable 24.5-minute standing ovation, setting a new record at the festival. Video footage captured the emotional reactions of the Israeli filmmakers, with Abraham visibly moved to tears, as the audience showed overwhelming support for the film, which draws from the testimonies of 24 Israeli military personnel.
According to Deadline, the extended ovation exceeded previous records, surpassing the acclaim for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” at the prior year’s festival and Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” at Cannes in 2006. Director Kaouther Ben Hania of “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha were also present during the screening, with some attendees unveiling Palestinian and Lebanese flags at the conclusion, as depicted in social media footage.
Filmed covertly over three years in Tel Aviv, “NAZA” features interviews with Israeli military figures whose identities remain concealed. These interviews detail the alleged use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to pinpoint Hamas targets, even when civilian families, including women and children, are present. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) responded to the film’s accusations, refuting them and emphasizing that decisions to strike are solely human-driven. The IDF asserted its commitment to minimizing civilian harm during military operations.
Titled after a military shorthand for civilian casualties, “NAZA” serves as a companion piece to Abraham and Szor’s previous documentary, “No Other Land,” which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2025. The film is executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, who faced backlash following his 2024 Oscar speech criticizing the Israel-Hamas conflict. The ongoing violence in Gaza underscores the film’s relevance, with Abraham emphasizing its systemic nature and the imperative of exposing these realities through insider perspectives.