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Documentary 'NAZA' Exposes Israeli Military's Civilian Casualty Protocols in Gaza

Anonymous soldiers speak openly about rules of engagement in Oscar-winning filmmakers' latest work

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
A new documentary by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor features anonymous interviews with two dozen Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers who speak candidly about the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Titled NAZA, an acronym for the number of civilian deaths deemed acceptable to eliminate a single Hamas member, the film has generated widespread discussion since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

The 77-minute film, reviewed by Jake Wilson as a four-and-a-half star work, is shot on rooftops in central Tel Aviv at night. The subjects appear as silhouettes, allowing them unusual frankness. One interview subject says that up to 20 civilian deaths are taken for granted when targeting a Hamas operative, but with authorisation, the number can go much higher.

NAZA comes from the same Palestinian-Israeli collective that produced No Other Land, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2025. The documentary consists primarily of one-on-one interviews with soldiers and intelligence officers involved, mainly from afar, in the killing of Palestinian civilians during the ongoing Gaza war, which began after the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed.

Critic Jake Wilson compares the film to the famous ferris wheel scene in Carol Reed's 1949 thriller The Third Man, calling NAZA even more chilling. The film has been widely discussed since its debut last month in Venice, where it competed for top honours.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The documentary directly exposes the Israeli military's internal protocols on civilian casualty tolerances, challenging official accounts of precision strikes.
  • It provides rare, on-the-record testimony from service members about the human cost of the conflict, with potential implications for international human rights discourse.
  • The film's wide discussion suggests it could influence public opinion and diplomatic scrutiny of the Gaza war.

Background

NAZA was produced by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, Israeli journalists who are part of the collective behind No Other Land. That film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2025, giving their work increased visibility. The Gaza war escalated after the October 7 attacks, with Israel's military campaign drawing ongoing international attention. The documentary is one of the first to feature serving or former Israeli military personnel speaking anonymously about civilian casualties.

Key Perspectives

Filmmakers (Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor): They frame the documentary as a necessary reckoning, giving voice to soldiers who describe operational norms that may amount to systemic harm to civilians. Their previous work on No Other Land indicates a commitment to documenting the consequences of occupation and conflict. Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers (anonymous subjects): They provide firsthand accounts of the decision-making process, revealing that a civilian death toll of up to 20 per target is standard, and often authorised higher. Their willingness to speak suggests some internal dissent or desire for accountability. Critics and skeptics: The film has generated controversy, likely from pro-Israeli government voices who question its methodology or selective framing. No direct rebuttal from the Israeli military is included in the reviewed material, but official responses to similar reports have historically denied systematic targeting of civilians.

What to Watch

  • Whether the Israeli government responds officially to the documentary's claims or attempts to restrict its distribution.
  • The film's reception at upcoming festivals and its potential for international broadcast or streaming deals.
  • Reactions from human rights organisations and possible further investigations into the protocols described.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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