NAZA Documentary Sparks Global Backlash and Fake Counter-Film
The documentary 'NAZA' has ignited a political storm in Israel after revealing that military officials used AI to target civilians in Gaza. The film, which won a record ovation at Venice, faces state retaliation, including threats to strip the directors' citizenship. Meanwhile, an Al Jazeera investigation exposed a state-backed counter-film that fabricated millions of views to discredit the original.
Key points
- The film 'NAZA' features 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers detailing how AI systems were used to calculate civilian deaths in Gaza.
- Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have accused the directors of treason and ordered investigations into the interviewees.
- An Al Jazeera probe revealed that a state-promoted counter-film fabricated its view count, showing 43 million views on its website versus 130,000 on YouTube.
- The film won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival and is now screening in over 50 countries.
Background
This story follows the 2026 Venice premiere of 'NAZA,' which received a record 25-minute standing ovation. The film is produced by The Guardian and executive-produced by Jonathan Glazer, who previously directed 'The Zone of Interest.' The controversy occurs against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza, which began in October 2023 and has resulted in over 74,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
How outlets are covering it
The Irish Times and Financial Times praise the film's formal brilliance and its unflinching look at the 'mechanisms' of mass killing. The Guardian highlights the 'venal' nature of Israel's retaliation, including threats to strip citizenship. Al Jazeera focuses on the digital deception of the counter-film, noting that its website claimed 43 million views while its YouTube channel had fewer than 130,000. The Israeli government, through the IDF and Culture Minister Miki Zohar, rejects the film's conclusions as 'libel' and 'treason,' while pro-Palestinian activists have criticized the film for concealing the identities of the personnel involved.
Why it matters
The film provides a rare, direct account of the internal logic behind the Israeli military's targeting systems in Gaza. The state's aggressive response, including the use of fabricated digital metrics to counter the film, highlights the escalating tension between international scrutiny and Israeli government control over the narrative of the conflict.
What to watch
The film is set to be released in UK cinemas on October 16 and will be available for free on The Guardian's website in late November. Israeli authorities are expected to continue their legal and political campaign against the directors and the 24 interviewees.
- Naza review: An essential record of the nightmare Israel has engineered in Gaza The Irish Times
- A Gaza war documentary sparks outrage in Israel NPR
- Jonathan Glazer says Israel’s retaliation over NAZA ‘more venal’ than anticipated The Guardian
- Al Jazeera probe exposes fake viewing numbers for Israeli counter-film Al Jazeera
- NAZA film review — Israeli accounts of assault on Gaza make brutally hard viewing Financial Times
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Read on The Irish Times