In letters to the heads of the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, and the attorney-general, Mr Netanyahu wrote that the film "spins a false, misleading, and biased narrative that slanders the State of Israel and the IDF globally and severely damages Israel's standing." He said those involved should face prosecution for leaking sensitive information, criminal libel, and damaging Israel's diplomatic and security interests.
The documentary, titled NAZA after an Israeli military acronym for collateral damage, features testimony from two dozen soldiers and intelligence officials speaking anonymously. Their accounts describe techniques used by the IDF in Gaza, including the use of artificial intelligence to assess targets. The IDF has rejected the film's allegations, and the Israeli government has released a counter-documentary to discredit it.
The filmmakers, Oscar-winning Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, have faced allegations of treason and threats against them and their families. They have not yet returned to Israel. Mr Netanyahu and senior ministers had previously promised legislation to strip citizenship from those who smear Israeli soldiers.
Various organisations, including Reporters Without Borders, condemned the government's attacks on NAZA and its team, viewing them as an example of pressure on the media ahead of the election on October 27. One of Mr Netanyahu's challengers, Gadi Eisenkot, has echoed the government's criticism of the film.
NAZA is scheduled to start screening in some Australian cinemas later this week. The directors won an Academy Award for their 2024 film No Other Land, which exposed conditions in the West Bank.